Qasemi: Iran's defense capabilities non-negotiable

Tehran, Nov 14, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Monday that Iran's defense capabilities are non-negotiable and Iran welcomes renewal of EU commitment to implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Qasemi said in reaction to the statement by foreign ministers council of the European Union that Iran's missile tests are in the context of defense policies and Iran's defensive capabilities are non-negotiable. Qasemi welcomed expansion of relations and cooperation with EU and renewal of the EU commitment to full implementation of the JCPOA. In the second round of talks between Iran and Europe, the two sides called for expansion of mutual cooperation on various issues mainly energy, peaceful nuclear energy, environment, transport, science and technology, research and education, he said. He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran expects the EU to eliminate the bottlenecks in banking ties to ease development of economic cooperation with partnership in the economic projects, he said. The Islamic Republic of Iran calls for EU practical measures to help Iranian accession to the World Trade Organization, Qasemi said. Qasemi said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to exchange views with EU on human rights issues and that Tehran is willing to express its views on human rights issues through dialogue away from controversy to bring closer views of the two sides. The Islamic Republic of Iran has always played decisive role to help restore stability and security in the region and spared no efforts to resolve the conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Iraq through peaceful means, he said. 1378/IRNA