Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker wants the Obama administration to act to stop Iran from testing ballistic missiles in violation of United Nations resolutions.
“Iran violates U.N. Security Council resolutions because it knows neither this administration nor the U.N. Security Council is likely to take any action. Instead, the administration remains paralyzed and responds to Iran’s violations with empty words of condemnation and concern,” Corker said in a statement Tuesday, reacting to reports that Iranian officials had tested a new medium-range ballistic missile for the second time since agreeing on July 14 to limit its nuclear program in exchange for relief from international sanctions.
“These continued violations without consequences also validate concern that all leverage will shift to Iran once sanctions are removed. If we cannot respond to a clear violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution, I have no faith that the U.N. and the Obama administration will implement any form of snapback in response to Iranian violations of the nuclear agreement.”
Fox News, quoting Western intelligence sources, reported Monday that the test of the Ghadr-110 missile, with an estimated range of about 1,200 miles, was conducted Nov. 21.
Corker was one of several lawmakers who complained when the administration took no action after Iranian officials announced the Oct. 10 test of another missile, dubbed “Emad,” or “Pillar.” That missile has an estimated range of 900 miles to 1,100 miles, which is enough to reach Israel, and a maneuverable warhead to improve accuracy and complicate anti-missile defenses.
The nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers extends for eight years U.N.-imposed restrictions on Tehran’s development of ballistic missiles, but Iran has publicly rejected any limits. Officials and experts are concerned that any breach by Iran of its obligations under the nuclear agreement, combined with further development of its missile program, would give the theocracy in Tehran a nuclear strike capability against the Jewish state, which it has vowed to destroy.
“The administration has the authority to penalize foreign individuals who engage in proliferation-related activities like ballistic missile launches,” Corker said. “They have used that authority in the past, and should do so again.”
