White House under pressure to respond to Iran’s missile tests

WASHINGTON — Despite pressure from Congress, the Obama administration continued to move only slowly toward acknowledging that Iran has violated a UN Security Council resolution prohibiting ballistic missile tests, and gestured toward a moderate sanctions response – if any – to Tehran’s actions.

 

After Iran conducted two ballistic missile tests earlier this week, and bragged that its missiles could hit Israel, Congress urged the administration to respond quickly, with at least one prominent senator claiming bipartisan support for new, tougher legislation targeting the Islamic republic.

 

Iran test-launched two ballistic missiles Wednesday emblazoned with the phrase “Israel must be wiped out” in Hebrew, Iranian media reported, in a show of power by the Shiite nation as US Vice President Joe Biden visited Jerusalem. Israel’s Foreign Ministry slammed the tests, said the missiles that were tested could carry a nuclear warhead, and said “Iran’s surface-to-surface missile program must be stopped.” (READ MORE)