Iran Missile ‘Provocation’ Near US Vessel Strains Nuclear Deal

“The Guards’ naval force had no exercise in the past week when the Americans claim that a missile or rocket was sacked in the Hormuz Strait area”, spokesman General Ramezan Sharif said on the Guards’ official website.

“Security and peace in the strategic Persian Gulf region is among Iran’s serious strategies, and the IRGC keeps holding its drills in due time based on its organizational schedule in a bid to improve the required preparations in this field”, he added.

“Firing weapons so close to passing coalition ships and commercial traffic within an internationally recognised maritime traffic lane is unsafe, unprofessional and inconsistent with global maritime law”, he said.

The Islamic republic is remaining defiant amid a threat by the United States to impose tough new sanctions on its ballistic missile program.

The Strait of Hormuz is only about 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point.

A top Iranian official wrote on Friday that Tehran will develop missiles with a range of 5000km – if the U.S. sanctions are imposed.

While the US didn’t retaliate to Saturday’s rocket test, the Strait of Hormuz has been the scene of a battle between the two countries’ navies.

The U.S. disagrees, saying the Treasury’s right to “blacklist Iranian entities allegedly involved in missile development” is a separate activity from the nuclear deal’s provisions.

One day after the USA announced that an Iranian rocket had landed within 1,500 yards of an American aircraft carrier, officials said the government is preparing new sanctions against Iran over its missile program.

“The publication of such false news under the present circumstances is akin to psychological warfare”, Sharif said.

To protect its considerable interests there, the United States deployed warships to the area to defend USA vessels in April after Iran seized a cargo ship owned by the Danish company Maersk that was traversing the strait.

Provocations like this will further concerns some members of Congress have about the landmark deal on Iran’s nuclear program, especially the sanction relief part of the agreement. Kyle Raines, a U.S. Central Command spokesman, said the missile test happened Saturday.

While the rockets weren’t fired in the direction of any ships, Raines said Iran’s “actions were highly provocative”.