TEHRAN, Mar. 16 (MNA) – In a series of Tweets on Tue. Iranian FM Zarif challenged those who accuse Iran of provocation to defend their military doctrine as defensive, as Iran has done.


The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) successfully test-fired three ballistic missiles -- Qadr-H, Qadr-F and Qiam -- during large-scale drills, code-named Eqtedar-e-Velayat last week.

The US reacted to the missile tests by vowing to continue pushing for UN Security Council action on Iran’s recent ballistic missile tests, calling for new sanctions.

Washington accusations were responded by Iranian officials that ballistic missiles do not violate the nuclear agreement Tehran reached with the 5+1 group of countries and are not in contravention of a United Nations Security Council resolution.

Furthermore, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the tests do not violate the JCPOA.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a series of tweets on Tuesday put further emphasis on the defensive doctrine of Iran’s military program, saying “neither JCPOA nor Security Council Resolutions prohibit Iran from missiles not designed for nuke warheads. Read the Document: It's plain English not legalese.”

“Iran hasn't attacked any country in 250 years. But when Saddam rained missiles on us and gassed our people for 8 years, no one helped us,” said Zarif in another Tweet, while referring to the Iran–Iraq War of 1980-1988 when Iraq under the rule of Saddam Hussein invaded the country.

“If we had missiles during Saddam’s war on us, they may have discouraged or at least reduced his indiscriminate attacks on our civilians,” he added.

“I challenge those who accuse Iran of provocation to make the the same statement as IRGC General: we will not use force except in defense,” said Zarif.

By Mehr News Agency