Monday 7 August 2017 - 17:07
Story Code : 271413
Kharrazi: Mogherini had no answer to EU backing US on anti-Iranian statement
Kamal Kharrazi met EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Sunday during her visit to Tehran on the occasion of President Rouhanis swearing-in ceremony, and discussed a range of topics with the top EU official, including the stance of three European countries on Irans recent test-launch of a satellite rocket.
I told Ms. Mogherini that Simorgh space rocket has been solely designed as a satellite carrier and has nothing to do with nuclear or non-nuclear warheads, Kharrazi said.
He went on to add, Ms. Mogherini had no proper response when I asked her about the reasoning behind the three European countries joint statement with US in condemning Simorghs test-launch as a breach of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, because it is perfectly clear that the rocket has not been designed to carry warheads.
Unfortunately, the US pressures work on these countries to the point where they ignore the facts, Kharrazi said, adding but we need to remind them of the reality of what we do, which is exactly in compliance with the nuclear deal, and that it is other sides to the deal which are violating it.
On July 27, Iran launched its domestically-manufactured Simorgh carrier, whose mission is to put Iranian satellites into the orbit. Following the launch, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that the launch could be a "violation of UN Security Council resolutions."
Three European allies of the US, including Britain, France, and Germany, in a joint statement on July 29 condemned the test as a breach of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, urging Tehran to halt all its missile activities.
Meanwhile, in a meeting with Federica Mogherini on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif said the move by the European states to join the US had been a move in the wrong direction.
# Tags
