Iran launched in February a satellite with technology that could “contribute” to the development of an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, Fox News reported.
The report was based on a U.N. panel of experts, which said that Iran intends to launch three more satellites by next March.
A variant of the 1,000-mile range Shabib-3 missile, which is believed to be able to carry a nuclear weapon, was used to launch the satellite
The negotiations between the Obama administration and other P5+1 countries with Iran over its nuclear program do not deal with the ICBMs.
If Iran were to agree and abide by terms of a final agreement, its ICBM program would continue unabated and could allow the Islamic Republic to attack Israel with a nuclear weapon procured from another country, such as North Korea.
Fox News noted that the U.N. panel concluded from an earlier report that a previous satellite launch “was related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons,” in violation of U.N. sanctions.
President Barack Obama is trying to assure Americans, and Israelis, that Iran will not violate terms of the final deal that is supposed to be concluded by the end of this month.