Iranian Tests May Violate Agreement

From the IPT website. 

Iranian military officials say they are deploying a sophisticated new guidance system to ballistic missiles with a range of more than 1,000 miles.

The Emad missile system is in the hands of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brigadier General Hossein Salami said in a state-controlled Fars News report. It may be used in pending war games, Salami said.

Tests on the Emad missiles in October may have violated United Nations Security Council resolutions. The system is touted for its precision, described as "steerable" until just before impact. While it is primarily for conventional weapons, the missiles can carry nuclear warheads.

Despite that, Iranian officials say the system is defensive in nature.

"We don't ask for anyone's permission for boosting our defense and missile power," Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said in October.

Iranian leaders have repeatedly vowed to destroy Israel, and the Emad's range places Jerusalem and Tel Aviv within range. Iran also has helped Hezbollah amass an arsenal of as many as 150,000 missiles in preparation for a future war with Israel.

The Obama administration's response to the Iranian missile tests thus far has been muted.

A U.N. ambassador said the United States is "deeply concerned" after the October missile test.

The State Department was "considering the appropriate consequences to that launch," Stephen Mull, the official in charge of implementing the nuclear agreement with Iran told a Senate hearing Dec. 17.

Steven Emerson is executive director of The Investigative Project on Terrorism. He was a correspondent for CNN and a senior editor at U.S. News and World Report. Read more reports from Steve Emerson — Click Here Now.