Launch of a Zelzal missile during military maneuvers. (AP)
The US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, says Iran’s recent ballistic missile launches are “provocative and destabilizing.”
Samantha Power, in a statement Friday, condemned Iranian military leaders’ reported claims that the missiles are designed to be a direct threat to Israel.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched several ballistic missiles during a military exercise on Tuesday, with the phrase “Israel must be wiped out” written on them.
The IRGC’s commander threatened Israel, saying it is within the range of most of the Islamic Republic’s missiles.
“Anyone bearing greater enmity towards Islamic Iran will naturally be more fearful of such capabilities and preparedness,” Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said on during the final stage of large-scale missile drills, code-named Eqtedar-e-Velayat.
Power’s statement comes a day after Iran’s foreign ministry insisted that the missile tests do not violate Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers or a UN Security Council resolution.
Power says that last year’s resolution calls upon Iran not to launch any ballistic missiles capable of delivering a nuclear weapon.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night instructed the Foreign Ministry to contact the P5+1 countries and demand that immediate punitive measures be taken in the wake of Iran’s “repeated and gross violations on the missiles issue.”
“This is an important step in and of itself and is also a test of the major powers in enforcing the nuclear agreement.” The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.
Iran claims that its military development is for defense purposes only.
However, many of these weapons were given to the Hezbollah terror organization and used against Israel’s civilian population during the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to use its missiles against Israel.
By: AP and United with Israel Staff