Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told the UN Security Council on Thursday that Iran tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) this past January.
Both constitute violations of the JCPOA nuclear deal, because they constitute elements of nuclear weapons of mass destruction – specifically, the delivery system component.
“On 2 January 2018, Iran launched a SHAHAB 3 variant at the CHA-BAHAR (South East Iran) firing range. On 5 January 2018, Iran launched a Scud variant from a firing range 110 km North East of Kerman. Both the SHAHAB 3 and Scud missiles are Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) Category One ballistic missiles, capable of delivering a nuclear payload of 500 kilograms for a range of over 300 kilometers.
“Iran’s activities, are therefore, in violation of Article 3 of Annex B to Security Council Resolution 2231,” Ambassador Danon wrote to the Council.
The launches are only part of a series of Iranian breaches of the resolution this year, Danon pointed out, noting the missiles it fired from Syria into Israel and the armed UAV it launched from Syria into Israeli airspace.
“Iran continues to ignore its obligations to the international community and further destabilize the Middle East, particularly in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and the Gaza Strip.
“Its activities pose a direct threat to Israel and the entire region. The Security Council must remain vigilant in the face of Iranian aggression,” he wrote.
Iran has set seven conditions with the remaining five world powers for its willingness to stay in the JCPOA nuclear deal. One of those conditions is a promise from the world leaders not to seek new talks on the Iranian ballistic missile program, and its regional Middle East activities.
The UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) maintains that Iran has stayed within the “main restrictions” on its nuclear activities imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal, despite the pullout by the United States.
However, the agency rapped the Islamic Republic for holding out on “complementary access” inspections under the IAEA Additional Protocol, which Iran is supposed to implement with the ideal.
The IAEA said Iran has been complying with limits on uranium enrichment levels. The report, submitted Thursday, was the first since the United States withdrawal announced by President Donald Trump on May 8.