Tehran’s reported ‘ballistic missile launch riles West

Months after Iran struck a landmark nuclear deal with Western powers, the first strains have surfaced with reports of Tehran testing a medium-range Emad rocket on October 10. The rocket has been found to be a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, according to a team of sanctions monitors. Reuters news agency cites the confidential report, which has concluded that the October test was a violation of a UN Security Council resolution.

Based on their conclusion, the council’s panel of experts on Iran will likely call for expanding sanctions against Tehran in Washington and some other Western capitals. The White House said on December 15 that it would not rule out additional steps against Tehran over the missile test.

“On the basis of its analysis and findings the Panel concludes that Emad launch is a violation by Iran of paragraph 9 of Security Council resolution 1929,” the panel said in its report.

The launch took place on Oct. 10, according to the report. Iranian rocket launches from 2012 and 2013 also violated the UN ban on ballistic missile tests, the panel observed.

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