The United Nations Security Council must take action to curb the threat of Iran’s ballistic missiles, particularly those with the ability to carry nuclear warheads, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations wrote in a letter to the UN Security Council.
He plans to raise the matter at Tuesday’s UNSC meeting on the Middle East, which is typically devoted to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Danon spoke out in response to Iran’s failed attempt to launch a Simorgh missile satellite vehicle on January 14. He called it a “rogue act,” a clear violation of Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015)” which “prohibits Iran from engaging in ballistic missile activity.”
He added, “the launch clearly reflects another stage in Iran’s development of ICBMs. On 19 April 2006, and 27 July 2017, Iran launched this same type of SLV missile and plans to do so again. As Iranian President Rouhani stated, “we will soon be ready for a new launch.”
Danon continued, “Iran completely disregards Resolution 2231, not only by launching missiles itself – both toward outer space and into neighboring countries – but also by leading a frenzy of missile proliferation across an already volatile Middle East.
“Iran is a rogue state violating international law. It blatantly defies the calls of the international community, and by doing so, cynically threatens the stability of our region, Europe and beyond. I call on the Security Council to join the nations and unions of states that have already taken measures to curb the threat of Iranian missiles, especially those capable of carrying nuclear weapons,” he said.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Iran will be ready for a new satellite launch in a few months’ time after a failed attempt this week.
Western officials say the missile technology used in such launches could be applied to delivering a nuclear weapon.
Iran’s bid to send a satellite, named Payam, into orbit failed on Tuesday as its launching rocket did not reach adequate speed in its third stage.
Rouhani was quoted by state media as saying, however, that Iran had “achieved great success in building satellites and launching them. That means we are on the right track.
“The remaining problems are minor, will be resolved in a few months, and we will soon be ready for a new launch,” he said.
The United States warned Iran this month against undertaking three planned rocket launches that it said would violate a U.N. Security Council resolution because they use ballistic missile technology.
France’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the abortive launch and urged Iran to cease ballistic missile tests, which Paris sees as of potential use for nuclear arms.
“The Iranian ballistic program is a source of concern for the international community and France,” ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said in a statement.
“We call on Iran not to proceed with new ballistic missile tests designed to be able to carry nuclear weapons, including space launchers, and urge Iran to respect its obligations under all U.N. Security Council resolutions,” von der Muhll said.
Reacting to the French comments, the Iranian foreign ministry’s spokesman said Iran’s satellite capabilities did not breach UN resolutions or any other international conventions since they “did not have a military nature.”
“The Islamic Republic will choose a path that serves the nation’s long term and strategic interests, and will not sacrifice the scientific development of the country for baseless and fabricated concerns of foreign countries,” Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Under the U.N. resolution enshrining Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, Tehran is “called upon” to refrain from work on ballistic missiles suitable for carrying nuclear weapons.