Iran said on Saturday it had successfully tested a new medium range ballistic missile just hours after the UAE warned of Tehran’s “hostile and expansionist” policy in the region.
The Khorramshahr missile has a range of 2,000 kilometres and can carry several warheads, Iranian state TV said.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that such are a “deliberate violation of the spirit” of the agreement between with world powers to curb Iran’s nuclear programme.
The United States has imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran over its missile tests which Washington says violate a UN resolution related to missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
Sheikh Abdullah said that nearly two years since the deal was signed to constrain Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for the removal of some sanctions, there has been “no sign of change in its hostile behaviour in the region or any desire to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
He welcomed a push to reopen the agreement and said the UAE therefore supported “enhancing controls on Iran’s nuclear programme and continued assessment of the agreement and its provisions".
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Iranian state broadcaster IRIB carried footage of the missile test without giving its time and location. It included video from an on-board camera which it said showed the detachment of the cone that carries multiple warheads.
The missile was first displayed at a military parade on Friday, where President Hassan Rouhani said Iran would strengthen its missile capabilities.
The test drew international condemnation.
"Extremely concerned by reports of Iran missile test, which is inconsistent with UN resolution 2231. Call on Iran to halt provocative acts," British foreign secretary Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter.
Mr Trump told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that Iran was building its missile capability and accused it of exporting violence to Yemen, Syria and other parts of the Middle East.
He also repeated criticism of the nuclear deal, which he has to certify next month if he thinks the deal is still in US interests.
Iran's defence minister said on Saturday foreign pressures would not affect Iran's missile programme.
"On the path to improve our country's defensive capacity we will certainly not be the least affected by any threats and we won't ask anyone's permission," Brigadier General Amir Hatami
Iran denies its missile development breaches the nuclear deal.
In his speech, Sheikh Abdullah said that "aggressive and expansionist" regimes that provided support for extremism and terrorist groups were trying to undermine the legitimacy of nation states.
The UAE would act against those who finance, promote, and justify these activities, he said.
The actions of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain to oppose the promotion of extremism and support of terror by Qatar was a necessary stand.