Iran denies talks on missile programme

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday denied that Tehran has agreed to negotiate over its missile programme, media reports said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi called the reports "unfounded" and said his country's "policy and stance concerning its defensive missile programme are completely clear and transparent, and that other countries are well aware of that position", Xinhua news reported, quoting Press TV.

A Financial Times report on Tuesday said that Iran has agreed to enter negotiations over its missile programme as well as its regional role during a recent meeting in Brussels with the EU representatives.

According to the report, Europeans have stepped up pressure on Iran over such issues as they struggle to respond to US President Donald Trump's latest threat that he would pull Washington out of the nuclear deal if some "disastrous flaws" were not fixed.

Everyone knows that Iran's defence programme is not up for negotiation, Qasemi said, stressing that Tehran's position has not undergone any changes.

The Iranian missile work is of completely "defensive and deterrent nature" and is not targeted against any country, Qasemi said, adding that no hollow and baseless claims would change this "principled and substantive" position of the Islamic Republic.

"The Islamic Republic does not allow any interference in its domestic affairs and defensive policies, especially its missile programme," he was quoted as saying.

Besides, Iran's regional policy is "constructive" and "in line with the promotion of peace and stability in the region and the entire world", he added.

--IANS

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