Iran conducted a ballistic missile test on Monday, directly defying a United Nations (UN) resolution. The missile traveled 600 miles before exploding in a failed test of reentry.
This test is likely forbidden by UN resolution 2231, which prohibits Iran from “[undertaking] any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.” Iran considers tests such as this legitimate as the missiles are allegedly not designed to carry a nuclear warhead.
UN resolution 2231 was passed by the UN Security Council in 2015 as a direct result of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), more commonly known as the “Iran deal.” The Iran deal was a long-sought foreign policy goal of the Obama administration, but faced great push-back from Republicans.
Republicans argued that Iran would not follow through with its end of the deal.
The State Department considers Iran to be a “state sponsor of terrorism,” as Iran has repeatedly “provided support for acts of international terrorism”. It should be no surprise, then, that an authoritarian, terrorist theocratic state defies international law and refuses to follow through with its side of a deal.
After decades of anti-American rhetoric, holocaust denial, and human rights abuse from the highest levels of the Iranian state, one wonders when American politicians will finally realize that Iran absolutely cannot and should not be trusted.