“This demonstrates once again why we need to address Iran’s destabilising activities across the region, while vigorously enforcing the nuclear deal”, Clinton said in a statement.
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One of the two had “Israel must be wiped off the Earth” printed in Hebrew on it, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported.
“The decision bars Iran from firing missiles that have the capability to carry a nuclear warhead – which are precisely the missiles they fired”.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest told journalists that the reported missile launches underscore the importance of the nuclear deal with Iran.
Ballistic missile tests have been seen as a way for Iran’s military to demonstrate that the nuclear deal will have no impact on its plans, which it says are for domestic defence only.
Jaberi-Ansari said none of Iran’s missiles are created to carry nuclear warheads and thus, their production and test “are not in contravention of Resolution 2231 and its appendices”. The missile tests underline a rift in Iran between hard-line factions opposed to normalizing relations with the West, and President Hassan Rouhani’s relatively moderate government, which is trying to attract foreign investors to Iran. “Iran will not turn into Yemen, Iraq or Syria”, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh told state TV late on Wednesday (local time). The nearest point in Iran is around 1,000 kilometres from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Biden was careful not to acknowledge the test fires by the Iranians, but he did issue a very stern warning to the latter.
There was no immediate comment from the foreign ministry of Iran. That move was made to stop a group of people and companies, some based in the United Arab Emirates and China, that found and imported the goods needed to support Iran’s missile program. No more looking the other way”.
In January, Iran seized 10 USA sailors in the Gulf when their two riverine command boats headed from Kuwait to Bahrain ended up in Iranian territorial waters after the crews “misnavigated”, the US military said. But the IRGC said it would not bow to pressure.
Also on Wednesday, the general tapped to soon lead the USA command overseeing the Middle East, Army General Jospeh Votel, expressed concern over the recent missile tests.
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Republican and some Democrats in Congress called on Tuesday for stronger measures, in light of the sanctions and a UNSC resolution calling upon on Iran to refrain from such tests.
