Iran Continues to Act Aggressively- Test Fires Another Ballistic Missile

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) test fired several ballistic missiles Tuesday, March 8, 2016, in defiance of recent sanctions placed on their missile program by the U.S. This marks the third ballistic missile test by Iran in just six months.

The ballistic missiles used were a mix of small and medium range missile, which had ranges from 185-1250 miles. One of the missiles used was a Qiam-1 missile, which is believed to have a range up to 460 miles. The missiles were launched from underground silos.

The Iranian government claims the missiles are used for deterrence purposes, but that does not excuse their continuation of their missile program. An Iranian Brigadier General claimed they would not stop developing ballistic missiles that are “a cornerstone of its conventional deterrence” despite sanctions.

The UN Security Council passed Resolution 1929 in 2010 that sought to limit Iran’s nuclear program and ability to acquire a nuclear weapon. Paragraph 9 in particular restricted Iran from testing a missile that was large enough to carry a nuclear warhead.

Iran first broke this Resolution last October when it test fired an Emad missile. The Emad is a liquid-fueled, intermediate range missile that has the capability to strike a target 1,060 miles away. Iran claims they do not intend to place a nuclear warhead in the missiles, but they are more than capable of doing so if they please.

Just a month after the October test the Iranians tested another intermediate range missile, the Ghadr-110, which has the potential to reach up to 1200 miles.

Iran further pushed the limits when it revealed new underground missile depot containing more Emad missiles. No international pressure has seemed to slow down Iran, as President Rouhani had reportedly told his defense minister to expand the ballistic missile program. Second in command of Iran’s ballistic missile program touted that they have so many Emad missiles that they are running out of room to put them in.

These tests were met with international condemnation, but this has seemed to do little to stop the Iranians.

Instead of breaking off the nuclear deal due to Iran’s belligerence, the U.S. and five other world powers continue to uphold their side of the agreement. Iran’s behavior should have been a clear sign that they have no intention of slowing down their missile program, yet world powers ignored this and lifted economic sanctions on Iran.

The deal also nullified the UN Security Council Resolution on Iran’s missile program.

To make up for the nullification of the UN Resolution, the U.S. imposed its own sanctions on Iran the day after economic sanctions were lifted. The sanctions were directed to individuals and companies involved with Iran’s ballistic missile program, and prevent them from using the U.S. banking system.

The U.S. has done nothing to stand in the way of Iran developing and testing ballistic missiles. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey told lawmakers “we should under no circumstances relieve pressure on Iran relative to ballistic missile capabilities and arms trafficking,” yet the U.S. has watched as the Iranians have launched three missile tests. President Obama even dispatched officers to ask Congress to be light on pressuring Iran on their missile program.

President Obama originally warned that he would walk away if Tehran did not adhere to the deal, yet the U.S. is currently the only one who is adhering to its misguided principles. Iran will not slow down its missile program as long as the U.S. imposes meager sanctions and takes little action.

As Fred Fleitz of the Center for Security Policy states “it is certain that the U.N. will give Iran no more than a slap on the wrist because no nation, especially the U.S., wants to endanger the nuclear deal.”