US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday (January 15th) accused Iran of posing a missile threat after Tehran defied his warnings and tried to put a satellite into orbit, albeit unsuccessfully, AFP reported.
Pompeo renewed his charge that the launch defied UN Security Council resolution 2231 of 2015, which endorsed an international agreement on ending Iran's nuclear weapons. The US has withdrawn from the agreement.
"In defiance of the international community and UNSCR 2231, Iran's regime fired off a space launch vehicle today," Pompeo said in a social media post.
"The launch yet again shows that Iran is pursuing enhanced missile capabilities that threaten Europe and the Middle East," he wrote.
Iran's telecommunications minister said the country successfully launched the Payam satellite but that it failed to be placed into orbit.
