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A U.S. military official says Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile on Wednesday.
This comes as representatives from nations still involved in the 2015 nuclear deal are set to meet in Vienna to assess what parts of the agreement can be salvaged.
What does the recent test launch of a ballistic missile suggest about Iran’s missile technology capabilities?
On 24th September 2020, U.S. military officials reported that the Iranian government carried out a test launch of a medium-range ballistic missile with an estimated range of 1,000 miles. The missile launch was allegedly conducted in early September from a mobile launcher which had been positioned in the Iranian desert.
The U.S. military’s assessment of the missile system suggests that it can target several U.S. military bases, allies as well as economic and strategic targets in the Middle East, Europe, and some parts of Asia. Such tests are viewed by international experts as a significant escalation by Tehran.
The United States has been closely monitoring Iran’s missile program since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The recent test comes after two previous ones in early 2020, indicating that Iran continues to develop its missile technology. The United States and other Western nations see this as a threat to regional and global security and are working to limit Iran’s ballistic missile program.
Iran has always been open about its missile capabilities, arguing that it needs them for self-defense and deterrence. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, and its missile technology is only for self-defense purposes. However, Western governments have claimed that Iran’s missile program is not consistent with its stated intentions and have continued to urge the authorities in Tehran to stop the development and testing of missiles.
The ballistic missile test by Iran further complicates the already strained relationship between Tehran and Washington. The United States withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) known as the Iranian nuclear deal in 2018 and has since imposed several rounds of crippling economic sanctions on Iran. Secretary Pompeo recently announced the resumption of all UN sanctions on Iran, which many experts view as a significant blow to the future of the nuclear deal.
Iran has responded to the maximum pressure campaign of the United States with a series of provocative actions in the region, such as attacks on oil shipping vessels, downing of a U.S. drone, and firing of rockets at American military bases in Iraq. Iran has also increased its support for proxies and allied groups in the region, including Houthi rebels in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Shiite militias in Iraq.
The United States has responded to Iran’s provocative behavior with a robust military presence in the region, including deploying troops and assets like Patriot anti-missile batteries and F-35 stealth fighters, and other advanced equipment in several countries. The Trump administration has also been building a coalition of nations to confront and contain Iran.
The recent ballistic missile test by Iran has the potential to escalate tensions further in the Middle East region, which is already beset by ongoing conflicts and crises such as the war in Syria, the conflict in Yemen, and the recent normalization of relations between Israel and some Arab states.
In conclusion, this missile test by Iran highlights the ongoing struggle between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities. The United States and its allies should continue to exert pressure on Iran to stop its missile program and engage in constructive dialogue aimed at resolving the outstanding issues between the two countries peacefully. The further escalation of tensions could lead to more instability and conflict in the region, which is the last thing that the already troubled Middle East needs.
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