Iran tests ballistic missile capable of delivering nuclear weapon

Iran has tested a medium-range missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon, the US has confirmed. The actions were in "clear violation" of UN sanctions and Washington will seek further action from the Security Council, US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power said on 16 October.

"The United States is deeply concerned about Iran's recent ballistic missile launch," Power said in a statement. "After reviewing the available information, we can confirm that Iran launched on October 10 a medium-range ballistic missile inherently capable of delivering a nuclear weapon," she added. "This was a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1929." The US is putting a report together to submit to the Security Council's Iran Sanctions Committee "in the coming days", Power said.

"The Security Council prohibition on Iran's ballistic missile activities, as well as the arms embargo, remain in place," Power said. "We will continue to press the Security Council for an appropriate response to Iran's disregard for its international obligations."

It was Tehran's first test since the landmark agreement sealed in Vienna in July between Iran and global powers. Under the terms of the deal, a number of sanctions will be lifted on Iran in return for strict limitations to its nuclear programme.

At present, Iran is still banned from testing ballistic missiles under Resolution 1929, and White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that Tehran's actions were a "clear violation" of UN sanctions. However, Earnest emphasised that Iran has stood by guarantees it made during nuclear talks. The Obama administration has said that the ballistic missile test is "entirely separate" from the nuclear deal that was reached with Rouhani's government.

"This is altogether separate from the nuclear agreement that Iran reached with the rest of the world," Earnest said . "In contrast to the repeated violations of the UN Security Council resolution that pertains to their ballistic missile activities, we've seen that Iran over the last couple of years has demonstrated a track record of abiding by the commitments that they made in the context of the nuclear talks."