Iranian foreign ministry officials announced that Mohamad Javad Zarif’s recent comment were misunderstood by some foreign medias and declared Iran’s missile program is not negotiable under any circumstance, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported on Wednesday.
“We categorically reject the AP’s characterization of FM Zarif’s comments to NBC News,” read the report.
Zarif has previously told NBC that “if the US wants to talk about missiles, it should stop selling weapons, including missiles, to regional states.” His comment was interpreted by some foreign media as Iran’s willing and readiness to hold talks with Washington over its missile program.
“Iran’s missiles are absolutely and under no condition negotiable with anyone or any country, period,” Alireza Miryousefi, head of Media office at Iranian Mission to the United Nation tweeted.
Miryousefi has also accused AP of misleading its audience on purpose.
“Surely AP reporters are familiar enough with conversational English to know and understand and are able to contextualize comments on the hypothetical, as well as parrying with words to make a point. Drawing a false conclusion in pursuit of headlines, when what was said in the context was obvious, only leads to a diminution of the standing of the press with the public,” he was quoted as saying by Mehr.
Iranian top officials have frequently explained that Iran’s nuclear deal and the country’s missile program is not negotiable, despite Western countries calls for dialogue.
