Iran Says ‘Concerned’ about US’ Missile Test

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi has expressed concern over the United States’ recent test of a medium-range missile, which came shortly after its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia.

In a statement on Saturday, Mousavi denounced and condemned the US’ insistence on unilateralism, withdrawal from international treaties, and undermining the international law, principles, and norms.

“The US’ move may lead to an arms race at the global level, which will not only exacerbate instability and threaten the international peace and security, but will also inflict heavy economic costs on other countries, the result of which will be a decrease in the level of the economic welfare of the people of the world,” he noted.

He also called on the international community and all countries to show an appropriate reaction to the US’ destabilizing measures and its withdrawal from international treaties, which is a step backwards in international relations.

On Monday, the United States defence department announced that it had tested a conventionally configured cruise missile that hit its target after more than 500km of flight, the first such test since the US pulled out of Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper was asked in an interview on Fox News on Wednesday whether the test was aimed at sending a message to China, Russia or North Korea and indicated that the main concern was China.

Moscow accused the US of “escalating military tensions”.

Russia and China also asked the United Nations Security Council to meet over “statements by US officials on their plans to develop and deploy medium-range missiles”.

Moscow and Beijing want to convene the 15-member council under the agenda item “threats to international peace and security” and have requested that UN disarmament affairs chief Izumi Nakamitsu brief the body, according to a request obtained by Reuters news agency.

They also warned of “threats to international peace and security” after latest US test of its new cruise missile.

The US withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty on 2 August after accusing Russia of violating it – a claim Moscow denies.

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