Iran’s recent launch of ballistic missile has caused international concern. The tests will confirm fears of some countries that Iran may not be genuinely interested in abandoning its nuclear programmes and might look at clandestine ways of going ahead with its plans. If confirmed, the launch of ballistic missiles amounts to a clear violation of the UN Security Council resolution 2231 which Tehran is supposed to abide by. Resolution 2231, adopted last July as UN sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program were lifted, calls upon Iran to refrain from certain ballistic missile activity.
The western nations are viewing Iran’s action with concern and are taking measures to register their protest and avoid a repetition . The US has decided to raise the issue during UN Security Council consultations next week and has urged countries to cooperate on undermining Tehran’s missile programme. “We will raise these dangerous launches directly at Council consultations, which we have called for, on Monday. These launches underscore the need to work with partners around the world to slow and degrade Iran’s missile program,”
the US envoy to the United Nations Samantha Power said.
Iran’s tests will only create tensions in a region which has already expressed concern about its interference and aggressive stances in some regional issues. Tehran should have exercised restraint and refrained from actions that would provoke the international community and its neighbours, especially because the world has just lifted sanctions imposed on it over its nuclear programme.
The latest tests can invite punitive measures which Iran may not be prepared to go through at a time when it is reaping the rewards of the end of sanctions. When UN sanctions on Iran were lifted in January, the Security Council’s Iran sanctions committee was shut down. But, according to diplomats, the former chair of that now-defunct committee, Spain, can take on the task of overseeing the monitoring of Tehran’s compliance with resolution 2231.
The Security Council members need to take the Iranian tests very seriously. The Council will first have to await confirmation from national intelligence agencies about whether the missiles fired were nuclear-capable. Russia and China, which had opposed continuing UN restrictions on Iran’s missile programme, would likely block council action. That will send the wrong message to Iran and our region. But the United States and some of its allies have the option of taking action in the form of unilateral national sanctions against , something Washington has done previously. France and some other countries too have said they could impose sanctions if the tests are true. The European Union too must take action.
Iran’s recent launch of ballistic missile has caused international concern. The tests will confirm fears of some countries that Iran may not be genuinely interested in abandoning its nuclear programmes and might look at clandestine ways of going ahead with its plans. If confirmed, the launch of ballistic missiles amounts to a clear violation of the UN Security Council resolution 2231 which Tehran is supposed to abide by. Resolution 2231, adopted last July as UN sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear program were lifted, calls upon Iran to refrain from certain ballistic missile activity.
The western nations are viewing Iran’s action with concern and are taking measures to register their protest and avoid a repetition . The US has decided to raise the issue during UN Security Council consultations next week and has urged countries to cooperate on undermining Tehran’s missile programme. “We will raise these dangerous launches directly at Council consultations, which we have called for, on Monday. These launches underscore the need to work with partners around the world to slow and degrade Iran’s missile program,”
the US envoy to the United Nations Samantha Power said.
Iran’s tests will only create tensions in a region which has already expressed concern about its interference and aggressive stances in some regional issues. Tehran should have exercised restraint and refrained from actions that would provoke the international community and its neighbours, especially because the world has just lifted sanctions imposed on it over its nuclear programme.
The latest tests can invite punitive measures which Iran may not be prepared to go through at a time when it is reaping the rewards of the end of sanctions. When UN sanctions on Iran were lifted in January, the Security Council’s Iran sanctions committee was shut down. But, according to diplomats, the former chair of that now-defunct committee, Spain, can take on the task of overseeing the monitoring of Tehran’s compliance with resolution 2231.
The Security Council members need to take the Iranian tests very seriously. The Council will first have to await confirmation from national intelligence agencies about whether the missiles fired were nuclear-capable. Russia and China, which had opposed continuing UN restrictions on Iran’s missile programme, would likely block council action. That will send the wrong message to Iran and our region. But the United States and some of its allies have the option of taking action in the form of unilateral national sanctions against , something Washington has done previously. France and some other countries too have said they could impose sanctions if the tests are true. The European Union too must take action.
