Iran denies UN report it exchanged missiles with N. Korea

UN report obtained by AP says two countries "appear to have been exchanging ballistic missiles," Iran Foreign Ministry: Report is 'fabrication'.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Iranian ballistic missile_311 reuters (photo credit: Ho New / Reuters)
Iranian ballistic missile_311 reuters
(photo credit: Ho New / Reuters)
The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday denied a UN panel report stating that North Korea and Iran "appear to have been regularly exchanging ballistic missiles, components and technology in violation of UN sanctions," AP reported.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast claimed that Iran's missile capabilities are so advanced that it doesn't need help from anyone, and blasted the report's findings as "news fabrications."
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"It's wrong. We think that such reports are published with certain intentions," he was quoted as saying by AP. "Iran's (missile) technology and capability are advanced enough that we don't need other countries to provide us technology or components."
His comments came after a UN panel reported to the Security Council that "prohibited ballistic missile-related items are suspected to have been transferred between North Korea and Iran on regularly scheduled flights of Air Koryo and Iran Air, with trans-shipment through a third country that diplomats identified as China," AP said.
The report was sent to the UNSC for approval by Tuesday morning, and if all countries agree, it will be released.