It would be Iran’s first ever launch of this configuration, and like the North Korean test earlier this year, would give Iran further insights into intercontinental ballistic missile technology.
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The United States has chose to take the issue of Iran’s new missile tests and the program in general to the UN Security Council in NY where it will be discussed next week.
Zarif added that under the global nuclear agreement that resulted in the lifting of United Nations sanctions, which he had also negotiated, Iran would never develop nuclear weapons. It said the missile tests “were part of ongoing efforts of its armed forces to strengthen its legitimate defense capabilities… against security threats”. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has instructed his foreign ministry to demand action from those countries that negotiated and agreed to a deal that claimed to curb the Iranian nuclear program: specifically, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Russian Federation.
Prime Minister John Key cautioned Mr Zarif over the ballistic missile tests. State television weeks later aired unprecedented footage of underground missile storage bunkers.
4- Security Council resolution 2231 does not prohibit legitimate and conventional military activities, nor does global law disallow them.
“We judge that Iran is in blatant disregard of Resolution 2231”, said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft ahead of the meeting held behind closed doors.
Diplomats appeared to agree that last week’s missile launch did not violate terms of a nuclear deal agreed between the world powers and Tehran in July. The U.S., which brokered the deal with Iran that ended most worldwide sanctions in exchange for Tehran’s pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons, called the meeting.
Danny Danon was referring to last week’s missile tests, conducted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, during which commanders revealed that the words “Israel must be wiped out” – in Hebrew – had been engraved on at least one projectile prior to firing.
“I asked him about the nationality of the individuals involved, he said they were nearly always Iranians”.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the tests were not in violation of the nuclear agreement.
Dr Zarif launched a staunch defensive of his country’s tests, saying they were not illegal.
“Anybody who is insane enough to attack us, we will attack back using conventional weapons”, he told the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs.
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The missiles Qadr-H and Qadr-F were fired from East Alborz heights in northern Iran and could hit the targets in Makran Coasts southeast of the country.
