Iran Reports Successful Launch of Missile as U.S. Considers New Sanctions
By THOMAS ERDBRINKJULY 27, 2017
TEHRAN — Iran successfully launched a missile into space on Thursday, state media reported, two days after the United States House of Representatives approved a bill
that would impose additional sanctions against the country, and Russia and North Korea.
But the other parties to the agreement — Britain, China, France, Germany
and Russia — do not share Mr. Trump’s objections, and a withdrawal by the Trump administration would leave the United States isolated on the issue.
The International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations has repeatedly found Iran to be in compliance
with the agreement, despite Mr. Trump’s assertions that it is not adhering to "the spirit" of the deal.
Such tests of what are essentially carrier rockets are not prohibited under the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran
and a group of six world powers including the United States.
Last week, the Trump administration announced new Iran-related sanctions it said were meant to show its toughened
stance toward the country despite having grudgingly affirmed its compliance with the nuclear deal.
President Trump has called the 2015 agreement a "very bad deal" for the United States and a disastrous giveaway to Iran.
Nader Karimi Joni, a journalist close to the government of President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, said
the launch on Thursday was a reaction to the House vote on Tuesday approving the new sanctions.
