- Published: 23 June 2017
INU – A new report by the National Council of Resistance of Iran revealed that Iran’s missile program has accelerated since the signing of the nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Tehran and world powers in 2015.
In a press conference on Tuesday, held at the NCRI’s Washington office, the scope of Iran’s missile program was made public, and is much more extensive than was previously imagined.
According to the report, the Revolutionary Guards, who are in charge of Iran’s ballistic missile program, have been carrying out operations at 42 locations, of which 12 were previously unknown.
The report alleges that one of the missile complexes is tied to SPND, the organization in charge of building nuclear bombs.
The information was obtained by the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK), who first revealed Iran’s illicit nuclear program, disclosed the NCRI.
Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the NCRI’s U.S. office, said in an interview with Fox News, “The findings show the first full picture of the missile program of the Iranian regime, which is very extensive and costly. It also shows a close tie between the nuclear weapons program and the missile program.”
Jafarzadeh continued,”Tehran has accelerated its missile program to make up for its domestic impotence and increasing regional isolation. The missile program of the regime is essential for its survival. Unfortunately the missile program of the Iranian regime has remained primarily unchecked.”
The nuclear accord failed to address a range of threats posed by the Iranian regime, including its involvement in other countries of the region, its ballistic missile program, and its human rights record.
The Obama administration, whose negotiations led to the deal, believed that the incentives provided by the JCPOA would curb Iran’s ambitions. Instead, Iran took advantage of the previous administration’s appeasement policy and hands-off approach to pursue its agendas, including several ballistic missile tests and launches since signing the JCPOA.
Recent developments, like last week’s passage in the U.S. Senate of a bill that, if approved by the House and signed by President Trump, will enforce new sanctions against the Iranian regime for its ballistic missile development, arms transfers, support for terrorism, and human rights violations.
The recent summit in Riyadh, where leaders of major Arab nations highlighted the menace of Iran’s ballistic missile program, and committed to confront Tehran’s subversive and destructive activities inside their countries, bodes ill for the Iranian regime.
The Iranian people deeply oppose the regime’s nuclear and missile program and its interference in the region, stated the NCRI representatives, and they called for the enactment of further sanctions against the Iranian regime’s missile program and all entities that are affiliated to it. Additionally they called for the expulsion of Iran’s forces and proxies from Syria and Iraq, and for the terrorist designation of the Revolutionary Guards.
