US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for an extension of the ban on exporting conventional weapons to Iran in response to its launch a few days ago as a military satellite, while Tehran again rejected US and Western criticism of the move, stressing that it had not violated relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
In a statement released today, Saturday, Pompeo urged what he called all peace-loving countries to reject Iran's development of ballistic missile capabilities, and to support restricting its dangerous missile programs.
He said countries should support the extension of the United Nations' conventional arms embargo on Iran, which is stipulated in the 2015 nuclear deal.
The US Secretary called on the European Union to punish individuals and entities cooperating with Iran's missile programs.
He considered that the launching of a military satellite by Tehran is evidence that the Iranian space program is not entirely peaceful or civilian.
He said it was unfortunate that the Iranian regime wasted its resources and efforts in provocative military attempts, at a time when the people are suffering and dying from the Corona pandemic, as he put it.
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In Tehran, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabei said his country had not violated international law or Security Council resolutions by launching a military satellite.
During a press conference held on Saturday via closed-circuit television, Rabiei denied the accusations of the United States and European countries to his country that launching the military satellite violates Security Council Resolution 2231.
He added that the military and civilian technological development is a non-negotiable right, and that threats will not deter his country from continuing on its path.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced last Wednesday the launch of the military satellite, "Nur 1", to be the first military satellite to be successfully launched by Iran.
After the launch, which Washington acknowledged its success, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard said that the mission of the new military satellite is to collect information and photos, noting that it had settled into its orbit around the Earth at a distance of 425 km.
Later, the Secretary of the Iranian National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, said that Iran will continue to increase its capabilities from building hospitals to developing its space industry, and that the future will witness other surprises.