BICOM

The US have accused Iran of testing a new medium range ballistic missile, in violation of UN Security Council 2231.

The US State Department said Iran had tested a medium range missile “capable of reaching parts of Europe and anywhere in the Mideast.”

Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the air division for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said that Iran’s missile development will allow it to hit targets more than 500km away with 30 meter accuracy, putting US bases in Qatar, the UAE, and Afghanistan, as well as US aircraft carriers stationed in the Persian Gulf, “within reach”.

Brian Hook, US Special Representative for Iran and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State said, that Iran “continues to prioritise missile development as a tool of revolution”. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said Iran’s missile testing and missile stockpile is expanding, and called on the regime to “cease immediately all activities” related to the development of ballistic missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads.

Brigadier-General Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Iran’s armed forces said that, missile tests in his country are carried out for defence and deterrence purposes. “We will continue to both develop and test missiles. This is outside the framework of (nuclear) negotiations and part of our national security, for which we will not ask any country’s permission,” he added.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said there is “no Security Council resolution prohibiting the missile programme and missile tests by Iran”. He added: “It is ironic that you [the US] cite a resolution that you have not only breached through your unilateral and unlawful withdrawal from the [nuclear] accord but that you also encourage others to breach or even threaten to punish and sanction them if they carry it [the accord] out.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet Mike Pompeo in Brussels this afternoon. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office said they will discuss “developments in the region”. Netanyahu will be accompanied by the head of the Mossad Yossi Cohen, Director of the National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat, and his Military Secretary, Brig.-Gen. Avi Blot.