Israel demands world powers punish Iran for missile tests
PM Netanyahu wants the P5+1 group of nations to respond to Iran's test launch of ballistic missiles that can reach Israel, with the US and France suggesting new sanctions could be placed on the Islamic Reublic.
Netanyahu said he instructed Israel's Foreign Ministry to direct the demand to the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany – the countries that signed the deal lifting sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear program.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard test-launched the ballistic missiles last week, the latest in a series of recent tests aimed at demonstrating Iran's intentions to push ahead with its missile program after scaling back its nuclear program under the deal reached last year.
Following last week's missile launches, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Iran to "act with moderation," and the UN ambassador to the United Nations said the launches were "provocative and destabilizing."
Iran's Foreign Ministry said the missile tests do not violate Iran's nuclear deal with world powers or UN Security Council resolutions. A Security Council resolution last year removing sanctions called on Iran not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to deliver a nuclear weapon.
The Israeli leader said world powers had pledged to prevent Iran from such violations. Speaking ahead of his weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said his demand for punitive action against Iran was "important as a test of the major powers' determination to enforce the nuclear agreement with Iran and, of course, we expect their answers."
France's foreign minister later raised the possibility of European sanctions against Iran over the missile tests.
Jean-Marc Ayrault said that "if necessary, sanctions will be taken." He spoke during a news conference after a meeting in Paris with US Secretary of State John Kerry and several European counterparts.
Kerry said the Iranian missile launches are a violation of UN resolutions and "could invite additional sanctions as we put them in place ... as a result of the prior tests."
Also Sunday, France's foreign minister said that the European Union could impose sanctions on Iran over its recent ballistic missile tests.
The United States, France and other countries have already said that, if the missiles are confirmed as nuclear-capable, the tests, conducted
last week by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, would violate UN Security Council resolution 2231. Asked whether this could trigger sanctions from the European Union, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said: "We condemn ballistic missile tests and, if necessary, sanctions will be enacted." The tests are due to be discussed by EU foreign ministers at a meeting on Monday.
Reuters contributed to this report.
