WASHINGTON: Iran test-launched a medium-range ballistic missile inside its borders, US officials said on Friday, defying Trump administration demands that it curtail the weapon programme and demonstrating its intent to further push back against US sanctions.

The test came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the West, mainly over the safety of commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

A White House spokesman called the test launch an example of Iran “acting out” as a result of intense pressure from US economic sanctions.

Nations still party to the nuclear deal with Tehran likely to meet on Sunday

“You’ve seen their economy teetering on the verge of collapse for a while now. And when they’re backed into a corner, they’re acting out,” said spokesman Hogan Gidley, who also said President Donald Trump wants to begin conversations with Iran’s leaders.

Iran has responded to stepped-up US economic sanctions with a variety of military moves, and the Shahab-3 missile test launch could be considered another signal from Tehran that it will not back down.

The US officials who confirmed the missile launch spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

Tensions have mounted with Iran over a 2015 nuclear accord it reached with world powers. The deal eased sanctions in exchange for Iran curbing its nuclear programme. Trump withdrew the United States from the accord last year, reinstating sanctions on Iran and adding new ones. Iran has exceeded the uranium enrichment levels set in the accord to try to pressure Europe into offsetting the economic pain of US sanctions.

Trump insists that Iran must agree to limits on its ballistic missile programme, but Iran thus far has refused.

Nations still party to the nuclear deal plan to meet in Vienna on Sunday to see to what extent the agreement can be saved. The European Union said the meeting of officials from China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany will be chaired by the EU.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, an expert on Iranian defence at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, said the Shahab-3 is a liquid-fuelled, medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear weapon.

“The Shahab-3 is the backbone of Iran’s class of medium-range ballistic missiles,” he said, adding that Iranian news outlets have previously called it one of the country’s “Israel-hitting” missiles.

It is reportedly derived from a North Korean missile called the Nodong-A and can fly 1,150 to 2,000 kilometres, or up to 1,242 miles, depending on the variant.

“Iran’s continued flight-testing has both political and military applications, functioning as a show of resolve against foreign adversaries and to improve the overall reliability of its missile force, which is the largest in the Middle East,” he said.

“As Iran continues to escalate in response to the maximum-pressure campaign, Washington should expect more missile launches.”

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2019