No Missile Talks, Iran’s Assembly of Experts Reiterates

In a statement at the conclusion of its biannual meeting on Wednesday, the Assembly of Experts, a high-ranking body in Iran electing leader of the Islamic Revolution, called for the enhancement of the country’s defense and missile power, reminding foreign countries that the issue would be never subject to negotiations.

The statement also denounced the US government for its breach of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), urging appropriate reaction by the related Iranian authorities to safeguard the rights of the Iranian nation.

The clerics also asked officials to rely on the ‘Resistance Economy’ grand plan to settle economic woes and improve the livelihood of people for ensuring national unity and rapport.

On regional and international developments, the statement condemned the US president’s decision to recognize the Palestinian city of al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of Israel, and decried Washington’s support for the Bahraini regime’s “cruel and inhumane treatment” of its people and for Saudi Arabia’s brazen aggression on Yemen.

The Assembly of Experts includes 88 clerics who are directly elected by people for an eight-year term. It holds biannual meetings to appoint a new chairman.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati was re-elected as the chairman of the assembly on Tuesday.