US Has No Information Iran Procured Materials in Violation of Nuclear Deal

Iran’s ballistic missile program has also drawn worldwide criticism, with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon writing in a new confidential report that said the country’s actions were “not consistent with the constructive spirit” of the nuclear deal, according to a Reuters report.

The Iranians have argued that Iran is under no obligation to stop its ballistic missile program, which is overseen by the powerful Revolutionary Guards, because – under a compromise that was part of the nuclear negotiations – a new UN Security Council resolution eased previous restrictions.

An unnamed official at the Iranian Foreign Ministry has recommended UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon issue a realistic report on Tehran’s commitment to the nuclear deal, saying he should not yield to political strains put on him.

“We have no information to indicate that Iran has procured any materials in violation of the JCPOA”, Kirby told reporters, using an acronym for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or nuclear agreement.

Speaking before Friday prayers on Iran’s state-run IRIB TV, Hossein Salami also said that Iran has “tens of thousands” of additional missiles that are ready to wipe the “accursed black dot” of Israel off the map, according to a translation from the Farsi by the Middle East Media Research Institute.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said Friday that the intelligence report made for “unpleasant” reading, but noted that it covered a period before the Iran deal came into force on January 16.

Germany also said Friday it is closely watching Iran’s attempts to procure nuclear and missile technology, after German intelligence agencies reported dozens of cases past year.

In a separate report released this week, the intelligence agency in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia said that two-thirds of the 141 attempts made to acquire nuclear technology in the state had links to Iran.

“We are already talking to our partners in NY and elsewhere, and we won’t hesitate to discuss this with Tehran”, he said.

Iran has already made it clear that test of missiles is an issue relating to defense of its territorial integrity and that none of its missiles are created to carry nuclear weapons.

The Security Council will reportedly discuss Ban’s report on July 18.

Schaefer said Germany had a “great deal of faith” in President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and had the impression that Tehran was doing its best to stick to the deal, which ended a 12-year standoff with the West over the nuclear programme.

Worldwide sanctions on Tehran were lifted in January under the nuclear deal, but current US policy bars foreign banks from clearing dollar-based transactions with Iran through USA banks.