PHOTO: One of Iran’s medium-range Qiam-1 ballistic missiles

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Iran has challenged criticism by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon of Tehran’s ballistic missile testing, which has brought new US sanctions despite the July 2015 nuclear deal.

A report by Ban to the UN Security Council, leaked to the media, said the missile tests “are not consistent with the constructive spirit” of nuclear deal. However, the Secretary General stopped short of recommending action. Instead he said that it was up to the Security Action to decide if its Resolution 2231, passed at the time of the agreement, had been violated.

Iran Feature: UN and Germany Criticize Tehran’s Missiles & Pursuit of Nuclear Equipment

An Iranian Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday that Ban had given into “political pressures”. The official said the Secretary General should produce a “realistic and fair report” on US “shortcomings” in fulfilling its obligations under the nuclear deal.

The Secretary of the Expediency Council, Mohsen Rezaei, said of Ban’s report, “The defensive Iranian missile tests are not inconsistent with the security and peace of the region. The missiles and bombs of the Zionist regime and Saudi Arabia are.”

In mid-March, Iran tested medium-range ballistic missiles, firing them 1,400 km (870 miles) inside the country. The US and European powers called on the Security Council to enforce Resolution 2231, which bars further research and development of missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Tehran responded that the Qiam missiles were not nuclear-capable.

Russia and China are likely to block any attempt to punish Iran. However, the US has imposed sanctions on individuals and companies which it claims are linked to the testing.

“Merkel is Unconstructive”

The Iranian regime has also rejected Thursday’s criticism by German Chancellor Angela Merkel of Tehran’s missile tests and nuclear program.

Addressing the Bundestag, Merkel summarized a report by German intelligence which found that Iranian officials had tried on nine occasions to obtain nuclear equipment and technology: “Iran [has] continued unabated to develop its rocket program in conflict with the relevant provisions of the UN Security Council.”

Reacting on Saturday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said the comments were “unconstructive”:

The Islamic Republic has, time and again, declared that its missile program has a completely defensive nature and has, in no way, been designed [for] carrying nuclear warheads.

The program is, therefore, not in contravention of the Security Council Resolution 2231 and has nothing to do with the JCPOA [nuclear deal].

Qassemi assured, “Such remarks have no impact upon the country’s legitimate missile program.”

Government Promises Action on “Payslips Scandal”

The Rouhani Government has promised action over excessive salaries and bonuses of officials, a controversy which has dominated Iranian politics over the past month.

First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, ordered by President Rouhani to lead an inquiry, said plans will be published next week.

Presenting a report on Friday, Jahangiri said action has been taken to remove top officials implicated in the scandal and recommended that their “excessive” benefits be “refunded” to the Government.

The head of four Iranian banks were dismissed earlier this month, and Friday’s report said several ministries — Health, Industry and Mining, Economy and Finance, and Oil — had paid the excessive salaries to officials.

Jahangiri said the procedures permitting the exorbitant salaries have been “annulled”, but he recommended reports on salaries in the Judiciary and other institutions.

Iranian media revealed last month that some officials were receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in salary, bonuses, and other perquisities. Amid public anger over the reports, the Supreme Leader has led the demands for action.

The Tehran Friday Prayer Leader, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani, said the theft of public funds “is not a small problem” and warned, “This looting may lead to the collapse of government”:

The phenomenon of illegal reception [of funds]…promotes aristocracy, luxury, and extravagance in the community. Illicit withdrawal of funds is a betrayal of the ideas of the revolution….

I say to the [government] officials….The people are waiting for you. Yes, orders have been given, but they are waiting for action.