UN Secretary-General Reacts to Iran’s Ballistic Missile Test

"In the current political atmosphere in the Middle East region, and so soon after the positive news of the lifting of sanctions against Iran, the secretary-general calls ... Iran to act with moderation, caution and the good sense not to increase tensions through hasty actions," Dujarric told reporters, according to a Reuters report.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force on Tuesday began the final stage of 'Might of Velayat' missile drills in different parts of the country by firing ballistic missiles from silos.

Iran announced the drills are held to demonstrate the country’s might and sustainable security in light of unity, convergence, empathy and harmony.

The exercises were also said to be aimed at showing Iran’s deterrence power and full preparedness for confronting any threat against the Revolution, the Establishment, and the country’s territorial integrity.

In reaction, the United States, France and some other countries said that if confirmed, the launch of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles would be a violation of a UN Security Council resolution.

Dujarric noted that it is up to the 15-nation council to examine issues related to resolution 2231, which calls upon Iran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology."

The United States has said Iran's missile tests do not violate the terms of an historic nuclear deal between Tehran and six major powers, which resolution 2231, adopted in July 2015, endorsed.

Council diplomats say they will first await confirmation from national intelligence agencies about whether the missiles Iran has fired were nuclear-capable. They also say that Russia and China, which opposed the continuation of restrictions on Iran's missile program, would likely block council action.

Meantime, Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the tests were not in violation of the nuclear agreement, which led to lifting of sanctions in January.

According to UNSC Resolution 2231, Iran is “called upon” to refrain from testing missiles that are designed to carry nuclear weapons, and Tehran has already said that none of its missiles are designed to do so.

While no new UN sanctions may be imminent, Western diplomats say that the United States and some of its allies could take additional punitive action in the form of unilateral national sanctions against Iran over the latest missile launches, something Washington has done previously.

When UN sanctions on Iran were lifted in January, the Security Council's Iran sanctions committee was shut down. But council diplomats said they expect the former chair of that now-defunct committee, Spain, will take on the task of overseeing the monitoring of Tehran's compliance with resolution 2231.

Iran has repeatedly emphasized that its missile maneuvers are aimed at maintaining the preparedness of the Iranian Armed Forces and enhancement of the country’s missile industry.