BICOM

The UK, France and Germany have called for a full UN examination of Iran’s missile development programme, accusing Iran of developing missile technology in violation of UN resolutions.

In a letter sent yesterday to the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, they highlighted the Iranian launch of a space vehicle and the unveiling of two new ballistic missiles in February. They said this was: “part of a trend of increased activity inconsistent” with UN Security Council Resolution 2231. The resolution was adopted after the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal in 2015 and calls on Iran “not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.”

The letter asks the UN Secretary General to “report fully and thoroughly on Iranian ballistic missile activity” in his next report, expected in June.

The UK, France and Germany highlighted the Safir space launch vehicle, used for the satellite launch in February, arguing that the system is based on two other missiles and uses technology closely related to the development of long-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles. They also pointed to the Khorramshahr ballistic missile, revealed at a public display in Tehran on 4 February, as “potentially an intermediate-range ballistic missile”.

The US has previously accused Iran of developing a ballistic missile programme in violation of UN resolutions. Acting US Ambassador to the UN Jonathan Cohen said Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile on 1 December 2018, and attempted to place satellites in orbit on 15 January and 5 February. Cohen said: “Iran has carried out these three launches in defiance of the expressed will of the UN Security Council, and such provocations continue to destabilise the entire Middle East region.” Iran said its missile programme is defensive in nature, and that it has no intention of developing a nuclear capability.