Senior Iranian official, Ali Akbar Velayati advised French President Emmanuel Macron not to interfere in Iran’s missile program.

Velayati, who is the senior adviser to Supreme Leader Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, was responding to Macron remarks, who said on Friday that Tehran should be less aggressive in the region and should clarify the strategy around its ballistic missile program.

“It does not benefit Mr. Macron and France to interfere on the missile issue and the strategic affairs of the Islamic Republic, which we have great sensitivities about,” Velayati said.

“What does this issue have to do with Mr. Macron? Who is he at all to interfere? If he wants relations between Iran and France to grow, then he should try not to interfere in these issues.”

Iranian officials have repeatedly said the Islamic Republic’s missile program is for defense purposes and is not up for negotiation. The program was not part of the 2015 nuclear deal with Western powers under which Iran agreed to curb its peaceful nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions.

Source: Reuters