The United States on Thursday called Iran’s missile program a “serious threat” after the Islamic Republic unveiled a new model with its longest range to date, AFP reported.
“Iran’s development, and proliferation of, ballistic missiles poses a serious threat to regional and international security and remains a significant non-proliferation challenge,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was quoted as having told reporters.
The comments came after Iran earlier in the day successfully test-launched the Kheibar missile, which it said will have a range of 2,000 kilometers and be able to carry warheads weighing over one ton.
The test was the latest of Iran”s ballistic missile tests and satellite launches.
“An Iran with a nuclear weapon would likely act even more provocatively, and that’s why we are so committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons,” Miller said.
France earlier on Thursday also denounced Iran”s test and accused the Islamic Republic of violating a UN Security Council resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear deal.
“These activities are all the more worrying in the context of the continuing escalation of Iran’s nuclear program”, French foreign ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre told reporters at a daily briefing.
Iran”s ballistic missile tests and satellite launches have long been a cause of concern for the West, which says that Iran”s ballistic missile tests are a violation of UN Security Council resolution 2231.
The resolution, which enshrined the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, says Iran is “called upon” to refrain for up to eight years from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons.
Iran denies its ballistic missiles violate this UN resolution.
The test comes as talks between the US and Iran aimed at reviving the 2015 deal have been stalled since September.
At that time, Iran submitted a response to a European Union proposal to revive the deal. A senior Biden administration official said the Iranian response “is not at all encouraging.” A US official later said that the efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have “hit a wall” because of Iran’s insistence on the closure of the UN nuclear watchdog’s investigations.
(Israel National News’ North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shavuot in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)
