In a statement, the Orsay dock links the launch of three space research devices to the Iranian ballistic missile program, prohibits by the United Nations.
Le Monde with AFP
France “condemns” and describes as “regrettable”, In a communiqué broadcast on Friday 31 December, the launch of a rocket carrying Three spatial research devices by Iran, considering that such action “does not comply with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231” when negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program have resumed and , according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in full “progress”.
“Due to the close proximity of the technologies used for spatial launches and ballistic shots, this launch contributes directly to the progress of Iran’s already concern in its ballistic missile program. The role of the Ministry of Defense in this launch testifies to the close link between these two programs, “says the Quai d’Orsay.
Iran said, Thursday, having launched a rocket carrying three spatial research devices. “The research objectives planned for this launch have been achieved,” said Ahmad Hosseini, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Defense, without giving more details. “It was a preliminary launch and we will have operational launches in the near future,” he said. State television briefly showed the images of a rocket shot from a desert place, welcoming “another fulfillment of Iranian scientists”.
Negotiations taken up at the end of November
“This launch also follows ballistic missile shots on 24 December,” also not complying with resolution 2231, according to Paris. This resolution “calls Iran not to proceed with ballistic missile activities designed to be able to take nuclear weapons”, continues the Quai d’Orsay in its communiqué.
This rocket shot occurs in full talks to save the Vienna Agreement. They were restarted at the end of November, after five months of interruption, between Tehran and the countries still involved in the Covenant (France, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, China). The negotiations are intended to bring back to the United States, which had left it in 2018 and had restored sanctions against Iran. Washington participates indirectly.