'Nonsense': Iran blasts US criticism of its missile program
Iran has dismissed as "nonsense" the American criticism of its missile development, describing the program as a shield against the US and Israeli aggression.
"He was speaking nonsense," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told journalists on Wednesday, referring to recent remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The spokesman said Washington has no right to comment on the defensive capabilities of a nation that has decided to preserve its independence at any cost."
The missile program, he said, is Iran's means "to stand against the greed, aggression and assaults of foreigners, including the US and the Zionist regime."
His remarks echoed those made by Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, who said earlier that US demands for restrictions on Iran's missile program “set a path that negates any talks.”
During a Monday visit to the occupied territories, Rubio vowed to maintain the "maximum pressure" policy of sanctions against Tehran, which was imposed during US President Donald Trump's first term in office.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio said Iran’s missile capabilities posed a threat to Persian Gulf states and Europe.
In mid-June, Israel unleashed war on Iran, assassinating high-ranking military commanders, scientists, and civilians. Iran responded decisively by launching waves of ballistic and hypersonic missiles at sensitive Israeli targets in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and other occupied cities.
When the United States also joined the Israeli aggression by striking Iran’s nuclear facilities, the American air base of Al Udeid in Qatar was targeted by the Iranian Armed Forces.
The White House then proposed a ceasefire, which Israel accepted.
Iran and the United States had been in the middle of indirect nuclear talks when Israel launched the aggression. A sixth round of negotiations was suspended.
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