Iran Reported to be Developing Nuclear Capable Missiles in Violation of JCPOA
The United Kingdom, Germany, and France have sent a letter to the United Nations alleging that the Islamic Republic of Iran is testing a missile “equipped with a maneuverable re-entry vehicle” capable of delivering a nuclear warhead on a distant target. If true, the action would violate a Security Council resolution on such activity.
According to the letter, which was circulated on Wednesday: “France, Germany and the United Kingdom assert once again our firm conclusion that Iran’s development of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles and related technologies is inconsistent” with the provisions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Ambassadors from the three European nations are urging UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call out Iran’s actions as a violation of the 2015 resolution endorsing the JCPOA, otherwise known as the Iran-Nuclear Deal.
President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the JCPOA in May of 2018, calling the deal “decaying and rotten” and an “embarrassment.” The United States instated sanctions against Iran shortly after the withdrawal from the JCPOA.
The three European powers claim that Iran tested a modified Shahab-3 missile variant with a “re-entry vehicle” capable of dropping a warhead on targets up to 1,200 miles away.
