WASHINGTON, Feb 8, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The United States on Thursday vowed to
remain “relentless” in pressuring Iran to deter its missile program after the
Islamic Republic unveiled a new ballistic weapon days after testing a cruise
missile.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards unveiled a new ballistic missile with a range
of 1,000 kilometres (620 miles), their official news agency Sepah News
reported.
The move was the latest show of military might by the country as it
celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution at a time of
heightened tensions with the United States.
“Iran’s blatant disregard for international norms must be addressed,” State
Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement.
“We must bring back tougher international restrictions to deter Iran’s
missile program,” he added.
“The United States will continue to be relentless in building support
around the world to confront the Iranian regime’s reckless ballistic missile
activity, and we will continue to impose sufficient pressure on the regime so
that it changes its malign behavior – including by fully implementing all of
our sanctions.”
Tehran reined in most of its nuclear program under a landmark 2015 deal
with major powers but has kept up development of its ballistic missile
technology.
President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the nuclear accord in May and
reimposed sanctions on Iran, citing the program among its reasons.
“Iran’s latest missile launch again proves the Iran deal is doing nothing
to stop Iran’s missile program,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted late
Thursday.
Iran and the other signatories have stuck by the 2015 agreement, although
some European governments have demanded an addition to address Tehran’s
ballistic missile program and its intervention in regional conflicts.
Meanwhile, UN Security Council Resolution 2231 — adopted just after the
nuclear deal — calls on Iran “not to undertake any activity related to
ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons”.
Tehran insists that its missile development program is “purely defensive”
and compliant with the resolution.