Senate

GOP wants to hear Obama’s plan on Iran missile test

by Jordain Carney - 12/09/15 2:50 PM ET

Two Republican senators say they want the Obama administration to detail how it plans to respond to reports that Iran tested a ballistic missile last month.

Republican Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.) and Mark Kirk (Ill.) on Wednesday sent a letter to President Obama, suggesting that not responding could signal to Iran that they’ll be able to violate other deals, including the nuclear agreement reached this year.

{mosads}”We reiterate our belief that a failure to hold Iran accountable to its international obligations will invite more violations from Tehran,” they wrote. “We would like to know what specific steps your administration plans to take to respond Iran’s two ballistic missile tests in as many months.”

The administration has repeatedly said that the missile program is separate from the country’s nuclear efforts, but the two Republican senators said in their letter that “this approach does not withstand scrutiny.”

Ayotte and Kirk face tough re-election challenges in 2016. Both of them opposed Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran.

The letter — which was sent on Tuesday but released Wednesday — comes amid reports that Iran tested a ballistic missile late last month.

The administration said Tuesday that it is investigating the claims, but could not confirm them.

The senators warned that allowing Iran to advance its missile program would threaten not only Israel but also U.S. personnel in the region, including “thousands of forward deployed U.S. troops, Israel, and eastern Europe.”

The senators sent a letter to the administration in October following an initial missile test, but haven’t received a response. The United Nations Security Council is still debating how to respond to the test.

Tags Kelly Ayotte Mark Kirk Missile defense Nuclear program of Iran Politics of Iran