Netanyahu Says Iran Missile Test Is ‘Flagrant Breach’ Of Security Council Resolution

Iran on Monday tested a ballistic missile with a range of 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) and a payload heavy enough to carry a nuclear warhead, US officials said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the test a “flagrant breach” of UN Security Council resolutions and called for the reimposition of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

According to Fox News, the test was unsuccessful, with the missile exploding after only 600 miles. According to Israel’s Channel 10, the test took place 10 days ago.

Netanyahu, according to the Times of Israel, said he would discuss the “entire failed nuclear accord” with US President Donald Trump. Trump earlier this month called the deal signed between Iran and world powers “one of the dumbest” he’d ever seen.

A Channel 10 analyst says the test launch shows that the Iranians were “testing” Trump.

According to Fox, the missile, dubbed Khorramashahr in Farsi, is based on a Russian-made missile designed for launching from a submarine platform. North Korea has successfully tested a ground launch of the design.

Netanyahu, who is scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on February 15, said he would urge Trump to resume sanctions against Iran following the missile test and discuss the “handling of this whole failed nuclear accord.”

Netanyahu has been one of the most vocal critics of the Iran nuclear deal, but has kept mostly quiet on it since it was passed. He has renewed his criticism since the inauguration of Trump, who also views the deal negatively.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the administration was “aware” that Iran made a ballistic missile test and was “looking into” it.

Shortly before Spicer’s briefing, Netanyahu tweeted: “Iran has again launched a ballistic missile. This is a flagrant violation of a UN Security Council resolution.”

He was referring to UN Resolution 2231, passed shortly after the nuclear deal was signed in July 2015. The resolution calls on Iran “not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”

Echoing the prime minister, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said in a statement that “Iran has once again defied Security Council resolutions and revealed its true intentions. The international community must not bury its head in the sand in the face of this Iranian aggression. The Security Council members must act immediately in response to these Iranian actions which endanger not only Israel, but the entire Middle East.”

Meanwhile, the Iranian Tasnim news agency quoted a top-ranking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander as saying on Sunday that the country was “among a handful of countries that have gained the know-how” to build ballistic missiles that can hit moving targets.

“Our enemies have stood against us with complex and special tactics and techniques,” Brigadier General Hossein Salami said. “In order to confront them, we need to take the initiative and employ special methods, techniques and tactics.”