U.S. calls Iranian satellite launch ‘provocative’

July 28, 2017

The Washington Post:

The State Department said Thursday that Iran’s launch of a space satellite was a “provocative action” that violates a U.N. resolution on ballistic missiles as well as the spirit of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Thursday that reports that Iran had launched a rocket carrying a satellite into space violated U.N. Security Council resolution 2231, which calls on Iran not to conduct any activity involving ballistic missiles that are designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

Nauert said the United States regards the launch as “continued ballistic missile development” that is discouraged in the U.N. resolution.

“We consider this to be a provocative action, and a provocative action that undermines the security, the prosperity of those in the region and around the world as well.”

“We believe that what happened overnight in the early morning hours here in Washington is inconsistent with the Security Council resolutions,” she added. “We believe that what happened overnight and into the morning is in violation of the spirit of the” nuclear agreement”…

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