The U.S. and Several European Allies Call for Iran to Halt Ballistic Missile Tests

France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, along with the United States, have issued a joint statement calling for Iran to stop its ballistic missile tests. They expressed concern over a recent missile test in Iran, stating that such actions threaten security and stability in the region. The statement from these four countries indicated that Iran's launch of the Simorgh satellite launcher is inconsistent with a United Nations Security Council resolution issued following the nuclear agreement between Tehran and six world powers. They condemned Iran's actions. A U.S. State Department spokesperson described the Simorgh missile launch on July 27 as a violation of the 'spirit' of the nuclear agreement. Iran announced on Thursday that it had successfully launched a satellite launcher named 'Simorgh' into space. According to Iranian state television and news agencies, the launch was 'successful.' The four countries stated in their statement that the Simorgh satellite launch utilized technology related to the development of ballistic missiles, specifically intercontinental ballistic missiles; this action follows a missile launch to Syria on June 18 and a medium-range missile test on July 4. France, Germany, the UK, and the U.S. asserted that Iran's actions in developing ballistic missile programs pose a risk to regional stability and should not continue. France, the UK, and Germany stated that they would directly communicate their concerns to Tehran. Tehran and Washington do not have diplomatic relations. All four countries also conveyed their 'concerns' to António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted on August 1 that 'every word of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was carefully negotiated. Iran is not developing missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads.' UN Security Council Resolution 2231, issued after the Vienna nuclear agreement to endorse it, calls on Iran to refrain from developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The United States has repeatedly accused Iran of testing ballistic missiles in violation of this resolution, which could be used to carry nuclear warheads. Tehran has consistently emphasized that these missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads and that it has no program to produce nuclear weapons. In response to the Simorgh missile test, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday that it had sanctioned six companies linked to the 'Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group.' The three European countries that joined the U.S. in the recent joint statement were also present in nuclear negotiations with Iran. The U.S., France, and the UK are also permanent members of the UN Security Council.