Iran says it will not accept any restrictions on missile programme

“Nor has the agency found any credible indications of the diversion of nuclear material in connection with the possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme”, said Yukiya Amani, Director General of the IAEA.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) produced a report earlier this month that strongly suggested Iran did have a nuclear weapons programme for years up until 2003, but the international response has been muted, even from the United States, which had long accused Tehran of lying.

Despite Iranian denials, the US and its allies continue to believe that Tehran did work on components of a nuclear weapon.

Only once the IAEA’s inspectors have verified that all the restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme are in effect will worldwide sanctions be rescinded.

“The panel assesses that the launch of the Emad has a range of no less than 1,000 kilometers with a payload of at least 1,000 kilograms and that Emad was a launch ‘using ballistic missile technology, ‘” the report said.

Amano said the next step would be to implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and the P5+1 countries – the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

Iran expects the worldwide and Western sanctions against the country to be lifted in January, Rouhani said.

“Iran’s cooperation was certainly not sufficient to close the overall PMD file”, the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security, which closely tracks Iran’s nuclear dossier, said in a statement. The two senators coauthored the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 which requires the administration to certify every 90 days that Iran is in compliance with the nuclear agreement.

United Nations experts have issued a report saying Iran’s firing of a ballistic missile in October violated United Nations sanctions banning the Islamic Republic from launches capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The new language says “Iran is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles created to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons” for approximately eight years.

Iran has deeply been concerned with PMD of its nuclear program and has been waging efforts so that the Board closes the case once and for all. All parties must fully implement their commitments under the JCPOA.

Instead, the IAEA made a decision to pursue implementation of the nuclear deal reached over the summer, which seeks to limit Tehran’s nuclear activity to peaceful purposes.

Iran has said any new sanctions would jeopardize the nuclear deal.

Tehran’s test firing of a medium-range Emad rocket in October was investigated by the panel and is now considered to be in violation of a United Nations resolution, Reuters wrote.