Iran Test-fires Medium-range Ballistic Missile

The US has accused Shi’ite Iran of testing a medium-range ballistic missile in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions. According to reports, a Shahab-3 missile was launched from the country’s South toward its North. With a range of nearly 700 miles, it therefore is capable of striking at the heart of Tehran’s arch-foe, Sunni Saudi Arabia. In response, an Iranian military official contended that the missile tests were purely for “defensive needs,” even though such arms are generally used for offensive purposes and, most notably, constitute a primary vehicle for the delivery of nuclear warheads. A New York Times report suggested that the move “appear[ed] to be a political statement by Iran, acting both as a carefully calibrated effort at escalation – and as a message to Europe.” While the Europeans remain committed to the 2015 nuclear deal, US President Donald Trump cited as one of his reasons for pulling out of the pact that it did not set adequate limitations on Tehran’s development of ballistic missiles. At the time of the accord’s completion, the UNSC passed a resolution prohibiting Iran from testing missiles such as the Shahab-3, which some analysts argue could be outfitted with nuclear material.