Iran says missile tests do not violate UN resolution
Iran has denied it violated a UN resolution and said that missile tests would continue.
Iran rejected recent United States accusations that the testing of missiles by the country violates a UN resolution and has vowed to continue the tests for the purposes of defense.
Via a statement by the US State Department on Dec. 1, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iran of test-firing missiles “capable of carrying multiple warheads” that could reach Europe. Pompeo said the test violates UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which bans Iran from undertaking “any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”
Ironically, the UN resolution Pompeo cited is in regard to the Iran nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the United States itself violated by exiting the deal in May. As noted by analysts, the resolution “calls upon” Iran to not test missiles specifically “designed to carry nuclear weapons” rather than just “nuclear-capable” missiles.
The State Department press release continued: “We condemn these activities, and call upon Iran to cease immediately all activities related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.” Pompeo later tweeted the same message. US national security advisor John Bolton followed up with his own tweet warning that the missiles could reach Israel, adding, “This provocative behavior cannot be tolerated.”
