Iran said on Friday that its ballistic missile programme was “not negotiable,” denying a report that suggested it was open to talks on its controversial arsenal, which has earned sharp rebukes from the US and accusations that it violates the spirit of the 2015 nuclear deal.
“Iran has in all bilateral diplomatic meetings … emphasised that its defensive missile programme is not negotiable,” and does not violate a Security Council resolution endorsing the nuclear accord, the Iranian Mehr news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi as saying.
Qasemi was responding to a Reuters report earlier on Friday that said Tehran indicated to the P5+1 world powers, with whom it signed the nuke accord, that its disputed ballistic program may be open to discussion. This may have been an ostensible bid to reduce escalating tensions amid reports US President Donald Trump will not recertify the deal in the upcoming October 15 deadline by which he is to report to Congress on whether Iran is complying with the agreement.
