In response to Britain, France, and Germany (E3) sending a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to investigate Iran's missile program, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called the countries out on their inability to stand up to the United States.
RELATED:
Floods Demolish 25,000 Houses Across Iran and Damage 60,000
In a tweet, Zarif cited the United States' exit from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), calling it "unlawful" and a form of "economic terrorism". The foreign minister says the move by the E3 is an attempt to appease U.S. President Donald Trump.
In 2015, the European signatories originally denounced Trump's decision to withdraw. But the trio shifted allegiance which led Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to express his disillusionment, stating on his website, "once again the Europeans have stabbed us in the back, they have betrayed us."
Trump announced that the United States was backing out of the agreement, claiming Iran was to blame for their violations resulting in sanctions which were previously withdrawn by the JCPOA being reimposed.
While the E3 countries continue to reinforce the claims of Iran's inconsistency with the United Nations resolution, they remain unfounded. The countries have only referenced Iran's failed satellite launch attempts and Tehran's continuation of ballistic missiles developments.
Iran's Guard Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari pointed out a double standard, citing "Europeans talk of limiting our defensive capability while they have the audacity [to allow] their offensive power be used to attack innocent people all over the world."
While the developments defy the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 urges Iran to avoid undertaking "any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons," Iran's government stresses that the program is strictly defensive and not intended to carry nuclear warheads.
In reference to the "economic terrorism" being conducted by the United States against Iran, Zarif says the restrictive sanctions that have been imposed have obstructed flood victims' ability to access relief. As a result, the number of people displaced and killed by the floods continues to rise.