24 September, 2017
Previous Iranian missile launches have triggered United States sanctions and accusations that they violate the spirit of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers. According to ISNA, Zarif sadi during the meeting that, "The current United States government's policy on the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] gives the world this message that negotiations with the U.S. are useless".
KELEMEN: President Trump has until October 15 to report to Congress on whether he thinks Iran is abiding by the deal, and if he does not certify this Congress could then reimpose sanctions, effectively sinking the deal.
Tillerson said there also is evidence of fuel shortages in North Korea following the passage of new UN Security Council sanctions.
Iran said on Saturday that it had successfully tested a new medium-range missile in defiance of warnings from Washington that such activities were grounds for abandoning their landmark nuclear deal.
Macron warned that Iran risked becoming a rogue nuclear state like North Korea without the deal. If, as now appears increasingly likely, he decides that it is not, it could open the way for renewed U.S. sanctions and perhaps the collapse of the agreement.
A defiant Iran has test fired another ballistic missile, Khorramshahr, a few hours after it was unveiled during a military parade in capital Tehran attended by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and senior military officials. It included video from an on-board camera which it said showed the detachment of the cone that carries multiple warheads.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said there was no question of reopening negotiations, a day after Trump called the accord an "embarrassment".
Britain voiced concerns about the latest test.
The Iranian president and the British prime minister also called for the expansion of bilateral ties. His administration understands that this strategy appeals to the interests of the US' Israeli and Saudi allies, and that it also gives Washington a tool for indirectly pressuring Tehran regarding the post-Daesh role of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah in Syria, which is increasingly becoming a major security issue for Tel Aviv.
"Lavrov confirmed that Russia will continue to support the sustainability of the JCPOA", the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a Facebook statement.
"We will strengthen our defense and military capabilities. whether you want it or not", Rouhani said, a direct response to Trump's speech at the U.N. General Assembly this week.
Trump is expected to yet again extend the sanctions relief, a key principle of the deal that allows Iran to do business and keeps the United States in compliance with the agreement, CNN reported earlier this month. "We seek no one's permission to defend our land".
He described the US President's approach as "unfortunate behaviour".
"It's essential to maintain (the agreement) to prevent a spiral of proliferation that would encourage hardliners in Iran to pursue nuclear weapons", Le Drian said.
