Blinken: Iran's Missile Activities Are 'One of the Greatest Challenges' to International Peace and Security

Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, states that the development, preparation, and proliferation of missiles and related technology by the Islamic Republic is 'one of the greatest challenges to international peace and security.' In a statement released on Wednesday, October 18, he said, 'We are witnessing the horrific impact of providing these Iranian missiles and drones to terrorist organizations and proxy militant groups that directly threaten the security of Israel and our partners in the Gulf.' Blinken further noted the expiration of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 regarding restrictions on Iran's missile activities, emphasizing that 'the United States reiterates its commitment to use every tool available to counter the development, production, and proliferation of Iran's missiles, drones, and other dangerous weapons.' According to Blinken, these tools include 'sanctions, export controls, diplomatic engagement, cooperation with private industries, and prohibitions where necessary and prescribed by law,' among others. Additionally, he mentioned that the U.S. is identifying individuals and entities associated with Iranian missile and conventional weapons activities, including operations in Russia, China, Venezuela, and elsewhere. On the same day, the United States and 46 other countries issued a joint statement committing to take all necessary actions to prevent the supply, sale, or transfer of items, materials, equipment, goods, and technologies related to Iran's ballistic missiles. The U.S. State Department previously stated in a written response to VOA that 'under the Biden administration, the United States has taken numerous actions to address Iran's nuclear program, the development and proliferation of missiles and drones, financing of terrorism, and other concerning and destabilizing behaviors both domestically and globally.' According to the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2231, on October 18, 2023, the UN-imposed restrictions on certain Iranian arms programs will be lifted. However, the lifting of these sanctions has been conditional on the Iranian government not engaging in any prohibited arms activities over the past eight years—from the time the JCPOA was finalized until the expiration of these sanctions. In recent years, the Islamic Republic has been accused by the United States and the JCPOA parties of violating this resolution. Iran claims it has no intention of building nuclear weapons and describes its nuclear program as peaceful.