DHAKA: Iran’s top leader has said anyone who thinks negotiations are more important than building a missile system are traitors, his official website reports.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comments appear to be a response to a statement from a former president who said discussions were the way forward, reports the BBC.

The statements come amid concern among world powers over a series of ballistic missile tests by Iran.

Iran denies the tests breach a UN resolution on its missile program.

The resolution, passed last year, calls on Iran not to develop or test ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Iran test-fired a nuclear weapon-capable ballistic missile in October 2015 and carried out more ballistic missile tests earlier this month.

Iran’s missile program was not banned under a deal last year with world powers which curbed its nuclear activity, but the call to desist forms part of a resolution endorsing the agreement.

BDST: 2151 HRS, MAR 30, 2016
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