The US government will push for UN action against Iran for violating sanctions by testing a ballistic missile, but insists it will not derail the historic international nuclear deal brokered earlier this year.
Samantha Power, the US ambassador the UN, said the test conduction on October 10 was a “clear violation” of a 2010 resolution barring Iran from any activity involving nuclear-capable missiles — and confirmed that the missile was “inherently capable of delivering a nuclear weapon.”
She said in a statement: “The security council prohibition on Iran’s ballistic missile activities, as well as the arms embargo, remain in place and we will continue to press the security council for an appropriate response to Iran’s disregard for its international obligations.”
The US is preparing a report to the security council committee that monitors sanctions against Iran.
The launch was the first of its kind since the historic nuclear deal was negotiated between Iran and world powers, including the US, but The White House stresses that it would not prevent the deal from going forward.
Obama said the test and the deal are “entirely separate”, explained that scrapping the landmark agreement wouldn’t do change Iran’s behaviour, and indicated that though the US will continue to enforce existing sanctions it would not seek to introduce new ones.
This latest conflict comes just as the Iran nuclear deal is due to start taking effect — October 18 is “adoption day”.
Under the eye of international observers, Iran is due to begin dismantling its nuclear programme and reducing its uranium supplies, exactly 90 days after the UN endorsed the deal.
The US and EU are required to start setting up a system of sanctions relief, notifying their governments that the process is in the pipeline.
If Iran’s denuclearisation is deemed satisfactory then international sanctions will be lifted.
