United States Calls For European Union Sanctions On Iranian Ballistic Program

The United States urged the European Union on Monday to apply sanctions targeting Iran’s ballistic missile program, calling it a “grave and escalating threat.”
Over the weekend, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo charged that Iran tested a medium-range missile capable of carrying multiple warheads and striking parts of Europe and the entire Middle East.

He said the test violated UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the Iran nuclear deal signed by world powers with the Islamic republic.

In Paris, the French foreign ministry also condemned the Iranian missile test as “provocative and destabilizing,” and noted that it was not in compliance with the UN resolution.

France “calls on Iran to immediately cease all activity linked to ballistic missiles conceived to carry nuclear weapons, including all launches using ballistic missile technology,” it said.

Washington’s Iran special envoy Brian Hook insisted that despite Tehran’s assertions to the contrary, Iran’s missile tests were not defensive in nature.

“We would like to see the European Union move sanctions that target Iran’s missile program,” Hook told reporters aboard Pompeo’s plane as he travelled to Brussels for a NATO meeting.

Hook said President Donald Trump’s campaign of “maximum pressure” on Tehran since withdrawing from the Iran  nuclear deal “can be effective if more nations can join us in those (sanctions).”

“It is a grave and escalating threat, and nations around the world, not just Europe, need to do everything they can to be targeting Iran’s missile program,” he added.

Hook said “progress” was being made on getting NATO allies to consider a proposal to target individuals and entities that play key roles in Iran’s missile program.

The United States decided in May to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on Iran.

EU countries have denounced the move and are working to preserve the nuclear deal, even though they have also criticized Iranian positions on other matters.

(AFP)