Iran Test-Fires Medium-Range Ballistic Missile US Official Says

(CNN) Barbara Starr Nicole Gaouette and Veronica Stracqualursi July 26 2019 10:35 AM Washington (CNN) - Iran test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile late Wednesday that traveled 1000 kilometers from its southern launch point into northern Iran according to a US official with direct knowledge of the event. The launch of the Shahab-3 missile did not pose a threat to shipping or US bases the official said and remained inside Iran for the duration of its flight. Nevertheless it served as a signal to the US and Europe and could serve to further increase tensions in the region. The missile was launched from Irans southeastern coastline along the Gulf of Oman and landed in northern Iran the official said. While analysts said Irans missile test might be destabilizing given the volatile situation in the Persian Gulf it doesnt violate any United Nations resolutions which has been a source of frustration to critics of the Iran deal. UN Security Council Resolution 2231 which endorsed the Iran nuclear deal called upon Iran to refrain from activities related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The missile test is inconsistent with the Security Council resolution and certainly destabilizing but not a violation said Mary Kaszynski deputy policy director of the Ploughshares Fund an anti-nuclear foundation. Kaszynski said that unless the specific test is a significant technological advancement this is really more about political messaging and part of the cycle of escalation between the Iranian regime and the Trump administration. Wednesdays test follows a pointed exchange between Iran and the US over missiles and may be meant to underscore that Iran will not negotiate over its missile program.