UN Security Council to discuss Iran missile test

The Iranian government will begin fully implementing the landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers “with good will”, and the work will be done while keeping in mind concerns voiced by Iran’s supreme leader, President Hassan Rouhani said Thursday.

On October 21st, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei released a list of conditions for the implementation of the nuclear agreement – a curious move, considering it comes a full three months after the negotiations over the JCPOA and its various requirements had actually concluded.

The supreme leader said that he had received two letters from President Barack Obama saying that the United States did not wish to overturn Iran’s political system, which is led by Shiite Muslim clerics.

As the Journal notes, “Secretary of State John Kerry and other USA officials had previously said sanctions wouldn’t be lifted unless Iran substantively cooperated with the United Nations probe”.

Iran has denied that the missile could be equipped with a nuclear warhead.

Khamenei having a final say on all policy decisions in the Islamic republic, said in his letter that the July 14 agreement struck in Vienna had “many ambiguities and structural weaknesses”.

The United States is also preparing a report on the incident for the Security Council’s Iran Sanctions Committee, Power said.

That resolution prohibits Tehran from conducting launches of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. As his administration has acknowledged, Iran is not even complying with the terms of this last-minute concession which had made the finalization of the nuclear deal possible.

“Iran’s nuclear dossier which was unfairly considered as a threat to global peace and security by being categorized under Chapter Seven on the United Nations, is now removed from that chapter and UNSC has shifted its approach towards Iran’s nuclear program”.

Iran also flouted the current worldwide embargo on its missile program when it tested a ballistic missile last weekend.

Iran insists it has no plans to develop atomic weapons.

Under the JPOA, Iran accepted to dramatically limit its nuclear program in exchange for relief from the sanctions that have crippled its economy.

To that end, “Because of the possibility of dishonesty, violation, and deception from the other side, particularly America”, Khamenei ordered the creation of a “strong and knowledgeable team” to observe and monitor the progress of the implementation of the JCPOA by Iran’s partners to the deal.