US: Iran missile test violated sanctions

Iran’s recent ballistic missile test was a violation of international sanctions, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said Friday.

Power said a U.S. probe found the new long-range ballistic missiles test-fired by Iran is “inherently capable of delivering a nuclear weapon” and thus is a “clear violation” of sanctions banning such launches, The Associated Press reported. 

{mosads}The ambassador’s comments are the clearest to date from the Obama administration, which had telegraphed for days it believed the Oct. 10 launch violated U.N. Security Council resolutions designed to curb Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions.  

Power said in a statement that the U.S. will file a report on the incident with the U.N. Security Council.

“The Security Council prohibition on Iran’s ballistic missile activities, as well as the arms embargo, remain in place and we will continue to press the Security Council for an appropriate response to Iran’s disregard for its international obligations,” she said.

The timing of the launch ruffled feathers in Washington, in large part because it occurred less than a week before the Iran nuclear deal is set to be officially adopted.

Administration officials have insisted, however, the launch does not violate the terms of the deal, which places limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions.