LOC23:05
20:05 GMT
TEHRAN, July 28 (KUNA) -- Iran does not manufacture missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Friday, and reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to the nuclear agreement signed with the P5+1 group two years ago.
"Every word in the nuclear agreement had been negotiated accurately, and Iran does not manufacture any missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads," Zarif said in his official Twitter account, cited by official media.
Tehran, he said, did not and would not manufacture any nuclear weapons, so it could not build rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
"Contrary to America, Iran implemented the nuclear agreement ... but the measures of America are indications of bad intentions," he said in apparent reference to the US reaction to Iran's launch of rocket carrying satellite into space.
The US said yesterday that Iran's launch of a satellite carrying rocket into space is a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
"We consider that to be continued ballistic missile development," said State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert to reporters. "We consider this to be a provocative action and a provocative action that undermines the security, the prosperity of those in the region and around the world as well."
She added that although Iran's actions are not a violation of the nuclear agreement, it is in "violation of the spirit of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action)."
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi, commenting today, said Tehran "does not need a permission from any country for the activities of its scientists and experts."
Earlier today, the US sanctioned Friday six Iran-based entities in response to Iran's "continued provocative actions."
The Department of Treasury said in a statement that its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned six Iran-based subordinates of Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG), "an entity central to Iran's ballistic missile program, in response to Iran's continued provocative actions, such as yesterday's launch of the Simorgh space launch vehicle."
It indicated that "space launch vehicles use technologies that are closely related to those of an intercontinental ballistic missile and this launch represents a threatening step by Iran." (end)
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