In response to Iran's launch of a Simorgh missile Satellite Launch Vehicle this past week, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, on Saturday night called on the Security Council to curb the threat of Iranian missiles.
"This act of aggression was committed in clear violation of Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015), passing the Annex B threshold that prohibits Iran from engaging in ballistic missile activity," Danon stated.
"Despite the clear and unequivocal calls by the international community for Iran not to proceed with this provocation, Iran, unsurprisingly, decided to carry out this rogue action....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,’” added Danon.
The Israeli Ambassador 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 concluded.
On Tuesday, Iran’s Telecommunications Minister, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, said that the Islamic Republic launched a satellite into space but that it failed to reach orbit.
The Minister explained that the rocket carrying the satellite failed to reach the “necessary speed” required to go into orbit, but promised that scientists would continue their work on the technology.
Tuesday’s launch came despite US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s warning to Iranearlier this month to cease its efforts to develop ballistic missiles. Pompeo demanded that Iran drop its plans for a space launch, saying such actions would defy UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
UN Security Council resolution 2231, which the US says Iran violates with its ballistic missile tests, enshrined Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
The resolution says Iran is “called upon” to refrain for up to eight years from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons.
Iran, however, denies its ballistic missile tests violate this resolution. Rouhani has stressed in the past that Iran will continue to produce missiles for its defense and does not consider that a violation of international agreements.
Pompeo on Tuesday criticized Iran for going through with the satellite launch despite his warnings.
“In defiance of the international community & UNSCR 2231, Iran’s regime fired off a space launch vehicle today. The launch yet again shows that Iran is pursuing enhanced missile capabilities that threaten Europe and the Middle East,” tweeted Pompeo.