UN experts say Iran missile firing violated UN sanctions
None
UNITED NATIONS - Iran's firing of a medium-range ballistic missile in October violated UN sanctions banning the Islamic Republic from launches capable of delivering nuclear weapons, UN experts said in a new report.
The report submitted to the UN Security Council and seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday said the launch used ballistic missile technology banned under a June 2010 resolution.
The Oct. 10 launch was the first test of a ballistic surface-to-surface missile after Iran and six world powers reached a landmark nuclear deal on July 14. The Security Council endorsed the deal in a resolution on July 20 that also called on Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
The report said the missile had a range of at least 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and up to 1,300 kilometers, and a payload of at least 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) and up to 1,400 kilograms (3,086 pounds).
But the panel said a missile with a range of at least 300 kilometers (186 miles) and a payload of at least 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) - far smaller than the one launched on Oct. 10 - is considered by expert guidelines to be capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.
