Missile tests inconsistent with nuke deal

Iran's ballistic missile tests in March were "not consistent" with the spirit of the nuclear agreement signed with world powers, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said in a report to the Security Council.

The secretary general, in a confidential report that AFP saw on Friday, left it up to the Security Council to determine what, if anything, should be done in response.

The report does not clearly state whether the Iranian tests violated the provisions of the landmark nuclear deal signed in July 2015 in Vienna.

Under the agreement, Tehran agreed to curb its atomic program. Western powers accused Iran of using the program to develop a nuclear bomb, but Tehran always denied the allegation.

Iran's foreign ministry yesterday rejected Ban's report as "contradicting the text of the agreement".

It instead called for a report on "America's failure to undertake its commitments in the deal, as all countries who have restored economic cooperations with Iran have acknowledged".

The deal led to the lifting of sanctions in January. However, Iran's ballistic missile program was not covered by the agreement.

This is the first report regarding the application of Security Council Resolution 2231, which includes the terms of the nuclear accord.