 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
 by Staff Writers Tehran (AFP) Dec 11, 2018
Iran confirmed on Tuesday that it had carried out a recent missile test after Western powers sharply criticised a December 1 launch of medium-range ballistic missiles. "We are continuing our missile tests and this recent one was a. significant test," the Fars news agency reported, citing Revolutionary Guards aerospace commander Brigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh. "The US reaction showed that it was a big thing for them and that it upset them," Hajizadeh said, adding that Iran carried out between 40 and 50 missile tests a year. He said the test had put Washington "under pressure", Fars reported. Iran reined in most of its nuclear programme under a landmark 2015 deal with major powers, but has continued to develop its ballistic missile technology. A UN Security Council resolution adopted after the agreement calls on Iran to refrain from testing missiles capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, but does not specifically bar Tehran from missile launches. The Security Council convened at the request of Britain and France on December 4 to discuss the latest test, which both governments described as "provocative" and "inconsistent" with Resolution 2231. - Defensive needs - Britain said that the types of missiles fired had capabilities that "go way beyond legitimate defensive needs". Iran insists the missiles are for defensive and deterrent purposes only. It has twice fired its medium-range missiles in anger in recent months. The first was against a Kurdish rebel base in neighbouring Iraq in September following a series of cross-border attacks. The second was against a jihadist base in eastern Syria in October following a deadly attack on a military parade in the Iranian city of Ahvaz. Iran has developed several types of medium-range ballistic missile capable of reaching Israel or Western bases across the region. In its report, Fars did not specify the date of the latest test or say which types of missile were fired. Washington, which quit the nuclear deal in May, described the test as an outright "violation" of Resolution 2231 and called on the Security Council to condemn it. But veto-wielding Moscow has defended Tehran's right to carry out missile tests, and the December 4 meeting ended with no joint statement or any plan for follow-up action. The council is due to meet again on December 19 for a regular review of the resolution's implementation. Iran has received repeated certifications of compliance with the provisions of the nuclear deal from the UN atomic watchdog. Western criticism has focused instead on Tehran's missile programme and its military interventions in the region. US President Donald Trump cited both issues as factors in his decision to abandon the nuclear deal with Tehran. European governments have said they share US concerns but believe they should be addressed through a supplementary agreement, made more difficult to achieve by the hard line from Trump. Washington has now reimposed all of the crippling unilateral sanctions against Tehran it had relaxed under the nuclear deal and European governments have so far failed to deliver on a promised mechanism that would enable their own firms doing business in Iran to circumvent them. Washington has meanwhile called on its European partners to slap unilateral sanctions of their own on Iranian individuals and organisations involved in the missile programme.
U.K. Typhoon fighter flies with Meteor air-to-air missiles for first time Washington (UPI) Dec 10, 2018 Royal Air Force Typhoons launched from RAF Lossiemouth for the first time with the Meteor air-to-air missile during a Quick Reaction Alert exercise for airspace defense. The Meteor long-range missile has been developed by a consortium of six European nations lead by the United Kingdom. The primary contractor for the weapon, which is expected to perform against "all and known future threats," is MBDA. "This latest missile system demonstrates the next chapter of the Typhoon which will see ... read more
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
