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Iran's missiles used in satellite launches threaten Europe, Middle East - Pompeo

Politics Materials 16 January 2019 08:53 (UTC +04:00)
Iran's failed attempt to place a satellite into orbit with a three stage rocket demonstrates the Islamic republic’s intent to develop missiles able to reach as far as Europe
Iran's missiles used in satellite launches threaten Europe, Middle East - Pompeo

Iran's failed attempt to place a satellite into orbit with a three stage rocket demonstrates the Islamic republic’s intent to develop missiles able to reach as far as Europe, Michael Pompeo said in a statement on Tuesday, Trend reported citing Sputnik.

Earlier in the day, Iran attempted to launch a satellite into orbit but the third stage of the rocket failed to provide enough speed to reach the orbit, Iranian Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said.

Iran plans a second satellite launch in the coming days in what the nation claims is a space exploration program, while claiming that rocket launches do not violate the Security Council resolution.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has insisted that the country's space program did not violate the resolution, related to the country's nuclear program.

Iran has recently made a significant progress in its space program with the launch of its Simorgh Satellite Launch Vehicle in July 2017. The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France in a joint statement condemned the launch, saying it contravened the UN Security Council resolution.

Unanimously adopted on 20 July 2015, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 endorsed the international nuclear deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The resolution laid out a plan for removing the UN sanctions on Iran in exchange for strict monitoring of its nuclear program, which the country insists is peaceful.

The United States withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018, and Tehran has since then accused Washington of violating the UNSC resolution. Iran has also denied that its missile program violates the resolution. Washington, in turn, has reimposed its sanctions against Tehran that had been lifted under the JCPOA agreement. The first package of the US restrictions came into force in August. In early November, Washington imposed new sanctions targeting core sectors of Iran's economy.

Following last year's ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, Russia and Iran have announced that the European Union would establish a financial mechanism, known as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), to enable trade with Tehran, bypassing Trump administration's reimposed restrictions.

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