Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Iran Violates U.N. Resolutions Again with Ballistic Missile Test | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55366637
Caption:

A ballistic missile is launched and tested in an undisclosed location, Iran, March 9, 2016. REUTERS/Mahmood Hosseini/TIMA


Washington- U.S. officials said that Iran has conducted a ballistic missile test in violation of the U.N. resolution put in place after the Iran nuclear deal.

Fox News reported exclusively on Monday that Iran has again violated a United Nations resolution with another ballistic missile test.

The Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile was test-launched Sunday at a site near Semnan, which is east of Tehran.

According to the report, the test was not entirely successful, with the missile exploding upon re-entry after it flew 960 Kilometers.

It was the second test since July, despite a clear mandate imposed by U.N. Resolution 2231, passed a few days after the signing of the JCPOA (the nuclear deal with Iran), warning Tehran not to conduct ballistic missile tests for the next eight years.

The test ban that went into effect July 30, 2015, stated clear that Iran is “called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”

The White House said it was aware that Iran had tested a missile.

“We’re looking into that. We’re aware that Iran fired that missile. We’re looking into the exact nature of it, and I’ll try to have more for you later,” White House spokesman Sean Spicer said during a press briefing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also publicly confirmed the test and said the launching of a ballistic missile constitutes a “flagrant violation” of U.N. rules.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Netanyahu said he intended to “raise the renewal of sanctions against Iran in this context and in other contexts” in his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on February 15.

Both Trump and Netanyahu have strongly opposed a nuclear deal with Iran that saw Tehran curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.

Any new sanctions would severely test the durability of the accord.