In light of Iran's violation of UN sanctions by testing nuclear-capable medium-range ballistic missiles, New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) called out the leaders of his Democratic party who supported the Iran nuclear deal, asking why they haven't criticized the breach.
On October 10, Iran conducted a ballistic missile test, and a month later it tested another ballistic missile, with US officials revealing other undeclared tests occurred earlier than that. UN sanctions monitors confirmed in a report that the medium-range Emad rocket tested on October 10 is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, making it a violation of a UN Security Council resolution.
Iran has since further flouted expectations from the deal, by just last Tuesday publicly revealing its 14 underground "missile towns," with the latest facility being shown on Iran media as convoys of the nuclear-capable Emad missiles were transferred in.
“Iran is laughing in the face of the United States right now,” said Hikind. “Their continuous violations have been so predictable. It’s just a horrible deal for the United States.”
"Where are the elected officials who were in favor of this horrendous deal, and why can’t we hear them loud and clear?,” asked Hikind, specifying Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Senator Corey Booker (D-NJ).
While there have been Democrats around the US calling for sanctions in response to the missile tests, Hikind noted the outcry was notably silent in New York and New Jersey, adding, "they should be at the forefront and fight for more sanctions. Where are they on this?”
Just last week US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the implementation of the nuclear deal is "just days away," adding that he believes Iran will reach its obligations by the time the deal is implemented.
“The fact that we would put ourselves in this type of position where we sit idly by while a terrorist-ridden country mocks us, just goes to show how poorly the Obama administration has handled this,” Hikind said.
“Where is our leadership? Elected officials are not only obligated to maintain our security, but also represent the peoples’ views, which are countered by the approval of this deal.”
In response to the missile tests, US President Barack Obama in late December threatened to implement new sanctions on Iran's rocket program. A day later Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened that Tehran would accelerate the development of its arsenal, and a day after that Obama backed down and delayed the new sanctions.