UN Secretary-General: Iran's Missile Tests Are Inconsistent with the Spirit of the JCPOA

Reports indicate that Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, stated in a confidential report that Iran's missile tests are not consistent with the 'constructive spirit' of the nuclear agreement with six world powers (JCPOA), but it is up to the UN Security Council to make decisions regarding this matter. Reuters, which has seen a copy of the UN Secretary-General's report, stated on Thursday, July 8, that Ban Ki-moon's lack of clarity regarding whether Iran's missile tests violate the Security Council resolution weakens the grounds for new sanctions against Iran. Previously, Western countries criticized Iran's missile tests, stating that these tests show 'disregard' for the Security Council resolution. With the implementation of the nuclear agreement or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) last January, all nuclear sanctions against Iran were lifted, but some arms restrictions against Iran remain in place. Security Council Resolution 2231, while endorsing the JCPOA, requested that Iran 'refrain from any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including the use of related technology, for eight years after the first day of the JCPOA's implementation.' According to Reuters, Ban Ki-moon wrote in this report to the members of the UN Security Council that Iran is urged to refrain from testing its ballistic missiles as such tests have the potential to increase tensions in the region. The UN Secretary-General added that although the interpretation of Security Council resolutions is the responsibility of this council, he is concerned that these missile tests are inconsistent with the constructive spirit shown in signing the nuclear agreement. The United States, France, Britain, and Germany, in a joint letter to the UN Security Council in April of this year, called for a response to Iran's missile tests, stating that these tests involved missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and that this is 'disregard' for Security Council Resolution 2231. These countries also asked Ban Ki-moon to declare that Iran's missile tests are inconsistent with Resolution 2231. While the UN Secretary-General has called for restraint from Iran, several commanders of the IRGC have previously emphasized the continuation of missile tests. Mostafa Izadi, Deputy for Strategic Affairs and Oversight of the General Command of the Armed Forces, previously stated that Iran's missile tests 'have no relation to the frameworks mentioned' in the nuclear agreement and 'will continue in the future.' In another part of this report, the UN Secretary-General expressed concern over the seizure of weapons in the Arabian Sea destined for Yemen. Ban Ki-moon stated that the U.S. had previously reported the seizure of Iranian-made weapons potentially destined for Yemen. Meanwhile, Iran has informed the UN that it has had no role in these shipments. The U.S. Navy announced on Monday, April 4 (April 16), that its warships had seized a vessel carrying weapons from Iran in the Arabian Sea, which was likely destined for Yemen. The U.S. Navy also added that from this small ship (dhow), 1,500 Kalashnikov rifles, 200 RPG launchers, and 21 .50 caliber machine guns were seized, but the crew of this ship has been released.