The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Tuesday was set to end its 12-year investigation into Iran’s nuclear weapons program, leading the way for sanctions to be lifted and normalized international relations with Iran to resume.
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Supporters of the July deal argue that it gives the IAEA far more intrusive powers to inspect Iran’s facilities and to monitor what it is doing, and that it extends the time Tehran would need to build an atom bomb if it chose to do so.
Following Iran’s October 10 ballistic missile test, Senator Corker, along with committee members Senators Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), wrote a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry seeking a determination on whether the test violated UNSCR 1929 and how the US would respond.
The report on the missile launch, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, said the ballistic missile, dubbed Emad, was an improved version of Iran’s previous missiles, with a range of up to 1,300 kilometers (800 miles), a payload of up to 1,400 kilograms (1.5 tons), and better maneuvering capability when descending on a target. The Iranian surface-to-surface missile test came on the heels of the historic Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear agreement.
The panel report, dated December 11, stated that the firing used ballistic missile technology banned under a June 2010 resolution, according to the Associated Press.
Despite Iranian denials, the United States and its allies continue to believe that Tehran did such work.
“On the basis of its analysis and findings, the panel concludes that Emad launch is a violation by Iran of paragraph 9 of Security Council resolution 1929”, said the report presented to the council last week and obtained by AFP on Tuesday.
Iran claims none of its missiles is created to carry nuclear weapons. Alongside the deal, the IAEA and Iran agreed on a roadmap toward the conclusion of its investigation- a prerequisite for implementation of the deal itself.
“Nor has the agency found any credible indications of the diversion of nuclear material in connection with the possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme”, said Yukiya Amani, Director General of the IAEA.
The envoy, Reza Najafi, was speaking shortly after the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation board made a decision to close its investigation of Iran’s past nuclear activities, throwing its support behind Tehran’s deal with major powers.
“Iran is still required to cooperate fully and in a satisfying manner with the agency in order to resolve all outstanding issues and verify the peaceful nature of Iran’s programme”, it added.
The United States is also looking at reports of a new ballistic missile test on November 24.
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Republicans in Congress who disapprove of the Iran nuclear deal are likely to seize on the United Nations panel’s findings as grounds for additional congressional US sanctions.
