Iran conducts multiple missile tests

Iran conducted multiple ballistic missile tests on Tuesday in what it said was a display of “deterrent power,” defying US sanctions imposed earlier in 2016 aimed at disrupting its missile programme.

State media announced that short-, medium- and long-range precision guided missiles were fired from several sites to show the country’s “all-out readiness to confront threats” against its territorial integrity.

Pictures of the launches were broadcast and reports said the armaments used had ranges of 300 km, 500 km, 800 km and 2,000 km.

The United States hit Iran with fresh sanctions on its missile programme in January, 24 hours after separate sanctions related to Tehran’s nuclear activities had been lifted under a landmark deal with world powers.

The latest tests, during an exercise named “The Power of Velayat”, a reference to the religious doctrine of the Islamic republic’s leadership, were undertaken by the Revolutionary Guards and its Aerospace wing.

Sepah News, the Guar-ds’ official media service, carried a statement confirming the tests.

The US said on Tuesday if reports of fresh Iranian ballistic missile tests are confirmed it planned to raise the issue at the UN Security Council and push for an “appropriate response”.

“We will encourage a serious review of the incident and press for an appropriate response,” said state department spokesman Mark Toner.

Meanwhile, Russia and the West are now divided on how well the UN atomic agency is reporting on Tehran’s meeting its commitments. Western nations want more details while Moscow opposes their push.