Danon to Security Council: Iran’s ballistic missiles threaten world

Danny Danon warned the U.N. Security Council that Iran’s missile development put the world at risk.

By David Isaac, World Israel News

Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, warned the U.N. Security Council against the global threat posed by Iran’s ballistic missile program and urged it to take “steps to curb the threat of Iranian missiles.”

In a letter to the U.N. body on Wednesday, Danon referred to Iran’s effort to launch a rocket at the start of the month. Evidence for the launch is based on satellite images that show recent burn marks around a launching pad in Iran’s Semnan province. Iran has not admitted to any such launch attempt.

“The international community should view this as another provocative act that is part of Iran’s hostile ballistic missile program,” Danon wrote. “Iran’s efforts to promote this plan not only threaten its neighbors and the entire Middle East, but also a large part of Europe.”

“Iran has become the main supplier of ballistic missile technologies to Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq, while providing these capabilities to non-state actors and terrorist operatives. I call on the Security Council to join the countries that have already taken steps to curb the threat of Iranian missiles,” the ambassador wrote.

Danon said that Iran was violating U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231. That resolution removed sanctions on the Islamic Republic in exchange for which Iran would not “undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”

Iran admitted to an earlier launch last month. It claimed that was a satellite launch. The satellite failed to make it to orbit. It’s not known if the failure is related to a secret plan by the U.S. to introduce faulty parts into Iran’s aerospace supply chain – a program reported on by The New York Times last week.

Both the U.S. and Israel have challenged Iran’s assertions that its missile program is meant for satellites and is peaceful in intent. They say Iran’s satellite program is a cover for developing ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads.

France joined America and Israel in condemning the launch, saying “The Iranian ballistic program is a source of concern for the international community and France. We call on Iran not to proceed with new ballistic missile tests designed to be able to carry nuclear weapons, including space launchers, and urge Iran to respect its obligations under all U.N. Security Council resolutions.”