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The U.S. is particularly troubled by reports that Iranian military leaders have claimed the missiles it launched are designed to be a direct threat to Israel.
Iran was reported to have launched two ballistic missiles on Wednesday.
The U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Samantha Power, made this known to newsmen during a stakeout on Monday in New York.
The stakeout was called after the Security Council closed-consultations to discuss Iran’s recent ballistic missile launches.
The U.S, she said, called the launch “dangerous, destabilising, and provocative given the multiple, interrelated conflicts in the Middle East.’’
She said such launches, accompanied by strident and militaristic rhetoric, undermined prospects for peace.
“We condemn such threats against one of our closest allies and another UN Member State.
Beyond just destabilising the region, these launches were also in defiance of provisions of the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the resolution that came into effect on Jan.16.
“In that resolution, Iran was called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
“This includes launches using such ballistic missile technology.
“Iran, however, continues to act as if this council has not spoken on the matter.’’
Power said U.S would continue to push for action to be taken against Iran for violation of Security Council 2231, which called upon it not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
“These were designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. This merits a council response.
“The council needs to take its responsibility and Russia seems to be finding its way to look for reasons not to act rather than stepping up and being prepared to shoulder our collective responsibility.
“We will continue to push in the Security Council in the 2231 format, bring forward the technical information that Iran itself has made public.
“Iran shows that the technology they used is inherently capable of delivering nuclear weapons and thus inherently defying Resolution 2231.
“So, we’re not going to give up at the Security Council, no matter the quibbling and we also can consider, of course, our own appropriate national response”, she said.
NAN recalls that the council adopted seven resolutions in 2015, as part of international efforts to address Iran’s nuclear programme.
The central demand by the council was that Iran should suspend its uranium enrichment programme and undertake several confidence-building measures outlined in a Feb. 2006 International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors Resolution.
This includes reconsidering the construction of its heavy-water reactor and ratifying the IAEA Additional Protocol.
Four of them include a series of progressively expansive sanctions on Iran and or Iranian persons and entities.
The sanctions represent one track in a “dual-track approach” pursued by China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; plus Germany or (P5+1), to address Iran’s nuclear programme.
When Iran and the P5+1 reached a comprehensive nuclear deal on July 14, 2015, the UN Security Council endorsed the deal and put in place measures to lift UN sanctions that targeted Iran’s nuclear programme.
The resolution was passed on July 20, 2015 by a unanimous vote.
(NAN)
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