US calls for EU sanctions on Iran’s missile programme after Tehran launches first military satellite

The United States has called on the European Union to place sanctions on anyone involved in developing Iran’s missile programmes, saying the UN’s conventional arms embargo on Iran must be extended, after Tehran announced last month it had successfully launched its first military satellite.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Washington was calling ‘on the European Union to sanction those individuals and entities working on Iran’s missile programs.’ In the 25 April statement, he added, ‘As a start, nations should support extending the UN conventional arms embargo on Iran, which is set to expire this October.’

On 22 April, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (‘IRGC’) announced it had placed its Nour-1 satellite into orbit. Last September, the US claimed Iran was using its civilian space agencies to advance the country’s ballistic missile programme.

Germany, France and the UK have expressed concern about the launch, while Russia has said the deployment did not violate any UN resolutions.

https://www.state.gov/irans-space-program-is-dangerous-not-peaceful/