Iranian state television showed footage of two Qadr missiles being launched from northern Iran, which the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said hit targets 1,400 kilometres away.
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One Security Council diplomat said the tests don’t violate the nuclear deal, but “there are obligations on Iran” that stem from the resolution and “they need to abide by those obligations.” he said. “Iran will not turn into Yemen, Iraq or Syria”, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh told a state news network, according to Reuters.
Iranian state media announced Wednesday that the Iranian military conducted more ballistic missile tests, after a round earlier this week.
Washington will act if Iran violates the nuclear deal, the United States vice president warned on Wednesday after Tehran test-fired two ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel.
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 come as the government of Iranian president Hassan Rouhani tries to build new economic ties with the West after sanctions were lifted in January under the nuclear deal, and a week after reformists allied with Mr Rouhani made a strong showing in national elections.
Previous UN resolutions have aimed at stopping Tehran from developing missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, although Tehran has always denied seeking the capability.
He urged Obama to “aggressively enforce all sanctions against Iran’s missile programs, support for terrorism and human rights abuses”.
The Tasnim agency, which is close to the Guards, carried a photograph of reporters in front of the missile before launch.
Vice President Joe Biden says the USA will take action if Iran violates its nuclear agreement.
Hajizadeh said Iran had no intention of starting a war, “but the Zionist regime (Israel) is our enemy and we don’t trust American officials”. He added that the longer range missiles were a deterrent against Israel. In return, Iran agreed to lengthy curbs on its nuclear program, which many believe aims at building a nuclear bomb. In a statement Thursday, the ministry called on the world to “react firmly and decisively” against further Iranian missile launches. The pair had built up a close working relationship during negotiations for last year’s nuclear accord.
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In January, Iran seized 10 US 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 USA military said.
