By Brittani Howell
Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East
TEHRAN, Iran – Last Wednesday Iran conducted its second day of missile tests, firing two rockets. The rockets hit their targets over 1,400 kilometers (850 miles) away, making them capable of reach Israel, which is 1,000 kilometers away from the nearest point in Iran.
Iran was barred from conducting any work on ballistic missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear warheads under United Nations Security Resolution 1929. This was revoked by the nuclear deal with the United States and was replaced with United Nations Security Resolution 2231 which urges that Iran abstain from such activity.
The second round of tests occurred on the same day that United States Vice President Biden was in Jerusalem meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It is alleged that the missile tests were intended to provoke an Israeli reaction.
Mr. Biden told reporters after his meeting with Mr. Netanyahu that, “We’re united in the belief that a nuclear armed Iran is an absolutely unacceptable threat to Israel, to the United States.” He continued, “And I want to reiterate which I know people still doubt here: If in fact they break the deal, we will act. And all their conventional activity outside of the deal is still beyond the deal, and we will and are attempting to act wherever we can find it.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hossein Jabier Ansari, told the state-controlled news agency, IRNA, that the missiles were for the legitimate defense of Iran and were not designed for carrying warheads. Analyst Nader Karimi Juni stated, “The ruling establishment is sending a message to the outside world that even though Iran has rejected nuclear weaponry, we are developing our missiles and making them increasingly sophisticated.”
Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Major General Ali Jafari, stated, “Our enemies have realized that broader sanctions and scrutiny pressures have had little impact on our capabilities.” He continued, “That’s why they now seek to confine us in the missile field through economic sanctions.” Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh was quoted stating, “The reason why we designed our missiles with a range of 2,000 km is to be able to hit our enemy the Zionist regime from a safe distance.”
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon commented that Iran was still hostile despite its nuclear deal with the United States in January. He stated, “To my regret there are some in the West who are misled by the honeyed words of part of he Iranian leadership while the other part continues to procure equipment and weaponry, to arm terrorist groups.”
Iran supplies weapons and technology to Hezbollah, its Lebanese proxy, which already has thousands of rockets capable of targeting Israel.
For more information, please see:
USA Today – Iran: Missile Tests Don’t Violate Nuclear Agreement, U.N. Resolution – 10 March 2016
CNN – Iran Launches Ballistic Missiles a Day After Missile Test – 9 March 2016
Los Angeles Times – Iran’s Latest Missile Test Launches Do Not Violate Nuclear Deal, U.S. Says – 9 March 2016
Reuters – Clinton Calls for Sanction on Iran After More Missile Tests – 9 March 2016
The New York Times – Iran Tests More Missiles in Message to Israel and Biden – 9 March 2016
