Following a meeting between the foreign ministers of the United States, France, and several other European countries, France’s foreign minister responded to the recent ballistic missile test by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Israel had previously called on the 5+1 countries to consider immediate punitive measures against Iran.
On Sunday (March 13/Esfand 23), France’s foreign minister, referring to Iran’s recent ballistic missile test, said: “If necessary, sanctions [against the Islamic Republic] will be imposed.” Jean-Marc Ayrault made these remarks following a meeting with John Kerry, his American counterpart, as well as foreign ministers from several other European countries.
According to the French news agency, John Kerry called Iran’s action a violation of United Nations resolutions. On this basis, the United States has called for this issue to be discussed at a Security Council meeting of the United Nations on Monday.
One day before the French foreign minister, Israel’s prime minister responded to the recent missile test by the Guards. Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on Saturday in a statement that Israel’s Foreign Ministry had been instructed to request the 5+1 countries apply immediate sanctions against Iran.
In the recent test of missiles said to have a range of 2,000 kilometers, text written in Hebrew stated: “Israel must be wiped out.” Israel views this action as a serious threat to its existence.
Previously, the UN Secretary-General, in response to Iran’s ballistic missile tests, called on the country’s officials to exercise caution and restraint in order to prevent an escalation of regional tensions.
Following the Guards’ missile test, the U.S. State Department announced that John Kerry, the country’s foreign secretary, in a phone conversation with Mohammad Javad Zarif, his Iranian counterpart, expressed concern about the Guards’ missile test. Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied that such a conversation took place. Iran’s Foreign Ministry does not consider the missile test a violation of UN resolutions. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force, also said on Wednesday evening (Esfand 20/March 10) in a live television program that Iran’s recent missile test does not violate the JCPOA.
