Araz News:Iran carried out another ballistic missile test Sunday. These tests are arguably in violation of a UN resolution put in place after the Iran Deal, though the exact language of the resolution allows Iran a lot of wiggle room.

The launch occurred at a well-known test site outside Semnan, about 140 miles east of Tehran, on Sunday.

The Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile flew 600 miles before exploding, in a failed test of a reentry vehicle, officials said. Iran defense minister Brigadier Gen. Hossein Dehqan said in September that Iran would start production of the missile, fox news reported.

Iran has tested ballistic missiles on multiple occasions over the past year. The subject of ballistic missiles is not addressed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, better known as the Iran deal. However, a UN resolution approved days after the Iran deal was intended to address this oversight by limiting Iran’s ballistic missile tests for 8 years. However, the language of UN resolution 2231 was watered down in ways that allow Iran to get around it.

Previous U.N. resolutions had stated that the council “decides that Iran shall not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.” The new resolution states “Iran is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”

The language change from “decides that Iran shall not” to “Iran is called upon” represents a softening in tone, signaling a more non-legally-binding appeal…

Further, the new resolution refers to missiles “designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons,” rather than “capable” of such delivery. So Iran now argues that its missiles are not “designed” for such capability.

Ayatollah Khamenei told Iran’s Fars News agency last year, “They have engaged in a lot of hue and cry over Iran’s missile capabilities, but they should know that this ballyhoo does not have any influence and they cannot do a damn thing.” Khamenei made it clear that he saw the missile issue as a triumph over the restrictions imposed by “arrogant” world powers. He said, “The US and other powers are extremely sad at this issue and they have no other option; that is why they made huge efforts in order to bring the country’s decision-making and decision-taking centers under their control, but they failed and God willing, they will continue to fail.”

It shoud be noted that Trump spoke Sunday with King Salman of Saudi Arabia and the two reportedly, “agreed on the importance of rigorously enforcing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran,” aka the Iran deal. During the campaign, Trump repeatedly criticized the Iran deal and said he would “dismantle” it.

BY-A.A