United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Iran to act with moderation and refrain from taking actions that lead to increased tensions.
Ban Ki Moon made the call in reaction to ballistic missile tests carried out this week by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on March 10.
"In the current political atmosphere in the Middle East region, and so soon after the positive news of the lifting of sanctions against Iran, the secretary-general calls on the government of the Islamic republic of Iran to act with moderation, caution and the good sense not to increase tensions through any hasty actions," Dujarric told reporters.
Iran has said that the missile tests on March 8 and 9 did not violate the nuclear accord with world powers or a UN Security Council resolution.
Foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari, said the missiles were "conventional defensive instruments and they were merely for legitimate defense.”
Jaberi Ansari added that Iran will continue its missile program. He also said his country will remain committed to its international obligations.
U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said earlier this week that the U.S. is looking into reports of Iran's missile tests and that Washington could take appropriate action "at the UN or unilaterally" if necessary.
The landmark nuclear deal, under which Iran accepted to significantly restrict its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, does not include provisions against missile launches.