Two days before the anniversary of the nuclear agreement between the Iranian regime and world powers, Tehran attempted to launch a new type of ballistic missile using North Korean technology, Fox News reported on Friday, citing multiple intelligence officials.
The test, in violation of a United Nations resolution, failed shortly after liftoff when the missile exploded, sources said. The effort occurred on the evening of July 11-12 near the Iranian city of Saman, an hour west of Isfahan, where the Iranian regime has conducted similar ballistic missile tests in the past.
It would be at least the fourth time Tehran has launched or attempted to launch a ballistic missile since the nuclear accord was signed on July 14, 2015, Fox News said.
The Iranian regime is barred from conducting ballistic missile tests for eight years under UN Resolution 2231, which went effect July 20, 2015, days after the nuclear accord was signed.
The Iranian regime 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,” according to the text of the resolution.
The most recent test was the first time the Iranian regime attempted to launch a version of the North Korean BM-25 Musudan ballistic missile, which has a maximum range of nearly 2,500 miles.
The extent of North Korea’s involvement in the failed launch is not immediately clear, apart from North Korea sharing their technology, according to officials.
North Korea has had its own difficulties launching the Musudan missile of late.
Since April, North Korea has failed five consecutive times in launching one. But late last month, North Korea succeeded in putting into space a Musudan, which later splashed down 250 miles from North Korea into the Sea of Japan.
There was no immediate reaction from U.S. Central Command when asked for comment about the failed Iranian missile launch.
In an interview with Fox News in Baghdad Thursday, the head of Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, said the Iranian regime continues to cause trouble in the region.
“Iran’s behavior hasn’t significantly changed as a result of the nuclear agreement,” said Gen. Joseph Votel. “They continue to pursue malign activities, and they continue to foment instability in areas where we need stability so I remain concerned about that continued behavior.”
Reuters reported last week that a confidential report by UN chief Ban Ki-moon called the Iranian regime’s ballistic missile program “not consistent with the constructive spirit” of the nuclear deal, but left it up to the UN Security Council to decide if Tehran is in violation of UN resolution 2231.
The Security Council is due to discuss the UN chief’s report on July 18.
In March, the Iranian regime sparked international condemnation when it test-fired two ballistic missiles, one emblazoned with the phrase “Israel must be wiped out” in Hebrew.
Tehran conducted separate ballistic missile tests in October and November.
In March, appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Votel was asked about the Iranian regime’s ballistic missile capabilities. He testified that Iran’s regime “may in fact be more aggressive in the days since the [nuclear] agreement.”
Votel told lawmakers the United States should continue to “expose” the Iranian regime for the role they play in the region, including its support for Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, responsible for dropping barrel bombs on his own people, according to Votel.
He told Fox News aboard USS New Orleans, a 684-foot warship loaded with 650 Marines transiting the Strait of Hormuz this week that Tehran should be “held accountable” for capturing 10 US Navy sailors in January at gunpoint and holding them for a day.
In recent days, Iranian regime officials have voiced plans to conduct more tests.
“Iran will strongly continue its missile program based on its own defense and national security calculations,” the regime’s foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said on the ministry’s website.
