President Trump Criticizes Iran’s Missile Launch
President Donald Trump criticized Iran’s latest ballistic missile test, accusing the regime of collaborating with North Korea.
Trump responded to the news with a tweet on Saturday: “Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel. They are also working with North Korea. Not much of an agreement we have.”
The missile has a range of 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) and can carry multiple warheads. The missile was launched from an unknown location. It is said to be easily capable of reaching Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The test comes at the end of a week of diplomacy at the UN General Assembly in New York, where Trump again accused Iran of destabilizing the Middle East, calling it a “rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos.”
A Message of Defiance
Iran’s test is a message to the US that it is determined to defend itself in any way against its adversaries.
Speaking during Friday’s parade, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran is unfettered with strengthening its missile capabilities and military defenses.
“We will promote our defensive and military power as much as we deem necessary,” Rouhani said. “We seek no one’s permission to defend our land.”
He added, “Whether you like it or not we are going to help Syria, Yemen and Palestine, and we will strengthen our missiles.”
Special Features of the New Ballistic Missiles
Iran unveiled the ballistic missile Friday at a military parade in Tehran and successfully tested it the same day. There are special features about the missiles that the regime is proud of.
Iran’s Defence Minister, Gen Amir Hatami, outlined the missile’s “unique specifications.”
Hatami said,”The ability to evade the enemy’s air defence line and to be guided from the moment of launch until the target is hit turns Khoramshahr into a tactical missile.”
These new features were also confirmed by Mark Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Institute for Internal Strategic Studies-Americas.
What’s new, he said, is that Iran says its ballistic missiles can carry multiple warheads and maybe several cluster bombs.
Fitzpatrick said, “It has the potential to carry nuclear warheads, but I am skeptical as to whether it can carry multiple ones because nuclear warheads are so large.”
Fitzpatrick stressed it would be a good idea to extend the Iran nuclear deal to include ballistic missiles as well as ballistic missile tests.
On Pressuring Iran
The United States and the international community stand shoulder to shoulder in maintaining pressure on the Iranian regime until it fully addresses concerns about its nuclear program.
A total of 20 countries and economies have continued to significantly reduce the volume of their crude oil purchases from Iran or have completely eliminated such purchases.
According to the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration report to Congress, Iran’s oil production fell by one million barrels per day in September and October 2012, compared to the same period in 2011.
Even though this is crippling their economy, they continue to press ahead with ballistic missile tests.
