Nasser Kanaani on Friday described the provisions outlined in the joint statement by the foreign ministries of France, Germany, and the UK concerning the Fattah-II missile as misleading, devoid of legal basis, and driven by specific political objectives.
Emphasizing the cessation of all restrictions imposed on Iran’s missile industry by the UN Security Council since October 18, Kanaani deemed the assertions put forth in the statement by the three European nations as unacceptable and lacking legal grounding.
The enhancement of Iran's conventional missile capability is aimed at deterrence and is founded upon the country's defense needs, he added, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.
"Unfounded allegations from certain parties do not impede the legitimate rights and actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the realm of defense," the spokesperson underscored.
He advised the three European countries against making unsubstantiated claims that do not foster constructive interaction between Iran and Europe.
On November 19, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force unveiled a new version of the ‘Fattah’ ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) warhead.
The new missile was unveiled after the restrictions on Iran’s missile program ended on October 18, 2023.
According to the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, Iran is no longer subject to any restrictions on ballistic missile technologies as of the Transition Day, eight years after the adoption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Eight years after the adoption of the JCPOA (October 18, 2023, aka Transition Day) all remaining nuclear-related sanctions against Iran expired. That includes restrictions on ballistic missile technologies, the proliferation of sensitive technologies and the designation of various people and entities related to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.