Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday condemned Iran’s testing of a missile that he said can reach Europe and anywhere in the Middle East, calling it a violation of a United Nations resolution restricting the Islamic Republic’s missile program.
“The Iranian regime has just test-fired a medium range ballistic missile that is capable of carrying multiple warheads. The missile has a range that allows it to strike parts of Europe and anywhere in the Middle East,” Pompeo said in a statement.
“This test violates UN Security Council resolution 2231 that bans Iran from undertaking ‘any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology…’” he continued.{mosads}
“As we have been warning for some time, Iran’s missile testing and missile proliferation is growing. We are accumulating risk of escalation in the region if we fail to restore deterrence. We condemn these activities, and call upon Iran to cease immediately all activities related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.”
Iran maintains that its missile program is purely defensive.
In May, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from an Obama-era nuclear pact Washington signed with Iran and other world powers that was aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program.
The Trump administration last month finished reimplementing sanctions on Iran that had been lifted as part of the agreement.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog declared in August that Iran is still in compliance with the agreement.
Trump and Republicans widely criticized the deal for not dealing with Iran’s non-nuclear activities, including its missile program and support for terrorist groups across the Middle East.
Tensions have recently been increased as Tehran threatened to close of the Strait of Hormuz, sharply curtailing the oil supply coming out of the Persian Gulf.
Iran has ruled out negotiating further with Washington regarding its military capabilities.
“Negotiations with former U.S. officials, who at least saved some face, bore such results! With current brazen U.S. officials—who have unsheathed their swords against Iranians—what negotiations can we have? Thus no negotiations with any U.S. official at any level will be held,” Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tweeted in August.