“These were created to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons”, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha PowerSamantha PowerUS promises UN response to Iran missile tests Overnight Defense: Obama likens ISIS to the Joker; Combat jobs will soon open to women Obama denied Kerry requests for Syrian missile strikes MORE told reporters after a U.N. Security Council meeting.
Advertisement
However, Vitaly Churkin, the Russian UN ambassador, told reporters that Iran’s launch did not violate relevant Security Council resolutions.
Zarif says Iran had not violated resolution 2231, although the tests may have violated the resolution it superseded.
Last week, Iranian state media reported the country’s Revolutionary Guard Corps carried out ballistic missile launches as one of the last steps in testing the missiles’ capabilities.
It is now a matter of discussion that Western countries may think of bringing bilateral sanctions on Iran if the Security Council does not impose penalties on the country following its recent ballistic missiles launch.
Iran denies ever seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.
Israel claims that the fact Iran is developing missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads “poses a big question mark over Iran’s intention to fully comply with its part in the Iran deal”.
“We are willing to [invest] in Iran in terms of resources, [but] to be honest, we are not sure about the registration issues and some ongoing sanctions”, he said.
Zarif said Tuesday that he had deliberately negotiated the wording of the latest United Nations resolution restraining his country’s nuclear program to ensure that the test-firing of nuclear-capable Iranian missiles would be legal.
But the United States insisted the tests violated the resolution and should prompt additional sanctions by the council.
Iran was New Zealand’s fifth largest trading partner in the 1980s before sanctions on Iran bit.
Bishop did not express an opinion on whether the test had breached Resolution 2231.
Mr Zarif and Mr Key also discussed Iran’s human rights record and trade opportunities.
He also said the Saudis need to “share” the Middle East with their Iranian foes.
Austrade officials visited Iran in November after a visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, earlier past year.
McCully said the visit, the first by an Iranian foreign minister for a decade, would help “refresh” the relationship.
Advertisement
“That is not to say things such as putting anti-Israeli messages on missiles is ever acceptable”.
