Iran has carried out a new medium range ballistic missile test in breach of two United Nations Security Council resolutions, a senior United States official told Fox News on Monday.
According to the source, the test was held November 21 near Chabahar, a port city in southeast Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan Province near the border with Pakistan. The launch took place from a known missile test site along the Gulf of Oman, reported Fox News.
The missile, known as a Ghadr-110, has a range of 1,800 – 2000 km, or 1200 miles, and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
The missile fired in November is an improved version of the Shahab 3, and is similar to the precision guided missile tested by Iran on October 10, which elicited strong condemnation from members of the UN Security Council.
Shortly after the October missile test, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Iran likely violated UN sanctions, but stressed that the test would not affect the implementation of the deal reached with world powers.
The United States ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, later stated the missile launched by Iran is a “medium-range ballistic missile inherently capable of delivering a nuclear weapon”.
“The United States is deeply concerned about Iran’s recent ballistic missile launch,” Power said at the time.
Iran has rejected claims that the missile was capable of delivering a nuclear warhead and also rejected the idea that the missile test was against UN resolutions.
Nevertheless, the United States, Britain, France and Germany subsequently called for the United Nations Security Council’s Iran sanctions committee to take action over the missile test.
President Obama mentioned the Iranian missile test during a press conference on October 16 and said the United States was preparing to brief the UN sanctions committee. He added that it would not derail the nuclear deal, however.
A senior administration official told Fox News on Monday the White House was “aware” of reports of the second missile test, but had “no further comment at this time.”
Iran continuously carries out long-range ballistic missile drills as it routinely shows off its military program.
The country’s domestic long-range ballistic missiles are, in fact, nuclear capable, according to international reports, particularly the Shahab 3 and Sejjil 2.