It’s been just two months since the implementation of the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1, but we’re not surprised to see reports that Iran is not only testing the limits of its agreements with the West (which include the nuclear deal, but are not limited to it), but violating international accords outright.
According to the most recent reports, based on information carried by Iranian state television, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) test-fired several ballistic missiles on Tuesday in what Reuters called a “made-for-television event” – and again on Wednesday. However, media outlets differed on the exact classification of this latest Iranian move, with some sites viewing it as a clear violation of a UN Security Council resolution and others (Reuters and The Guardian, for example) cautiously viewing it as an attempt to “challenge” or “test” it (or even just testing “prior US warnings”) – not unlike the outlets’ reaction to previous ballistic missile tests carried out by Iran after the nuclear deal was signed, deeming them “inconclusive.”
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This time, the US found “strong indications” that by testing the missiles, Iran violated Security Council Resolution 2231 – contrary to Tehran’s own claims that it was merely showing its “deterrence power.” This claim didn’t fool news outlets, either, especially as Iran announced not long after that it would not “continue” to be committed to the nuclear deal if its “national interests” were not met. Most outlets, however, did not link this not-so-implicit threat to the ballistic missile test. Despite the fact that, as reported in reuters, US Democratic Presidential front runner Hillary Clinton called for renewed sanctions against Iran, some outlets highlighted the overwhelmingly less significant fact that there was still some doubt.
…And, lo and behold, no sooner had the ink dried on the (web) pages reporting Tuesday’s ballistic missile test than Iran carried out another one on Wednesday. Is that a “conclusive” enough violation yet?
Filed under: Iranian Nuclear Crisis, Iranian Politics, IRGC, Media Coverage, nuclear talks Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
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