Iran defense capabilities non-negotiable: MP
PRESSTV Fri Feb 14, 2014 10:48AM GMT
http://presstv.com/detail/2014/02/14/350667/iran-missile-might-not-up-for-debate/


An Iranian lawmaker has dismissed US claims that Tehran’s defense
capabilities would be part of the nuclear talks with six world powers,
saying Iran’s defense might is non-negotiable.

The recent positions by the White House officials on certain issues are “not
acceptable,” said Mohammad Hassan Asafari, who sits on Iran’s Majlis
National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, on Thursday.

“They should remember that Iran’s missile issues are not part of the
negotiations in the Geneva agreement and are by no means negotiable; and the
P5+1 [group] (the five parties to the nuclear talks with Iran) cannot launch
such a scenario,” he said.

“The issue of missiles and Iran’s missile might are part of our defense
industries, and every country is entitled to build up its missile power to
defend its territory,” he added.

Earlier, Wendy Sherman, the US top nuclear negotiator at the talks with
Iran, said during a Senate hearing last week that the Islamic Republic’s
ballistic missile program would be addressed as part of a comprehensive
nuclear deal.

However, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs
Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that Tehran had no intention of discussing its
ballistic missile program with major powers.

Araqchi, who is also a top nuclear negotiator, said the talks between Tehran
and the six countries of Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany
are limited to Iran’s nuclear energy program only and other issues will not
be discussed.

“The subject of the talks with the P5+1 group is only the nuclear issue; and
we will not discuss any other issues,” he said, adding that the country’s
defense issues “are not negotiable and are our red line.”

AR/HJL/HMV