Israel demands world powers punish Iran for missile tests

Iran said its armed forces had fired two more ballistic missiles bearing the Hebrew-language inscription “Israel needs to be wiped off face of the earth” on Wednesday as it continued tests in defiance of USA warnings.

Following Iran’s ballistic missile tests last week, came on Saturday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for the world powers to take “immediate punitive steps” against Iran; noting that Iran from its side said that the tests do not violate the agreement.

The tests, which state television said ended on Wednesday night, were seen as a challenge to a United Nations resolution and last year’s nuclear accord with world powers under which Tehran agreed to curb its atomic program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Speaking ahead of his weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said his demand for punitive action against Iran was “important as a test of the major powers’ determination to enforce the nuclear agreement with Iran and, of course, we expect their answers”. “These launches underscore the need to work with partners around the world to slow and degrade Iran’s missile program“.

Western officials indicated they believed the ideologically driven Iranian Revolutionary Guards conducted the tests. In addition, any punishment of Iran would likely be vetoed by China and Russian Federation on the Security Council.

“Some of the missiles carried 24 warheads and one tonne of TNT”, said Hajizadeh, who heads the Guard’s aerospace division.

Western media reported that the U.S. will raise these missiles launch issue during UN Security Council consultations next week.

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In January, Washington imposed new sanctions on Iran s missile program just 24 hours after separate embargoes targeting its nuclear program had been lifted. But council diplomats said they expect the former chair of that now-defunct committee, Spain, will take on the task of overseeing the monitoring of Tehran’s compliance with resolution 2231.