Four Nuclear Deal Nations Decry Iran's Space Launch

Four nuclear deal nations decry Irans space launch

WASHINGTON, New York Times, July 28, 2017 —The United States, France, Germany and Britain say they're raising concerns with the United Nationsover Iran's launch of a satellite-carrying rocket into space.

The four countries brokered the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran along with China, Russia and the European Union . They say in a joint statement that Iran's launch was 'inconsistent' with a U.N. Security Council resolution that enshrined the nuclear deal.

The four nations say Iran's missile development destabilizes the region and shouldn't continue. France, Germany and the U.K. say they're raising their concerns directly with Iran. The U.S. doesn't maintain diplomatic relations with Tehran.

The United States is slapping Iran with new ballistic missiles sanctions in response to its launch of a satellite-carrying rocket into space a day earlier.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the sanctions illustrate deep U.S. concerns about Iran's missile testing and other actions. He says the U.S. will continue countering Iran's ballistic missile program including Thursday's 'provocative space launch.'

The U.S. has said that launch flouted a U.N. Security Council resolution because the technology is inherently designed to be able to carry a nuclear payload.

The sanctions come as the Trump administration continues debating its Iran policy and whether to scrap the 2015 nuclear deal.