Iran calls France’s testing of nuclear ballistic missile a threat to world peace

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s Foreign Ministry says it’s “concerned” about France’s testing of a new ballistic missile and that it is inconsistent with the country’s international commitments, state-run IRNA news agency reports.

Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi says the French navy’s recent test-firing of a new generation M51 intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying several nuclear warheads is incompatible with France’s commitments to nuclear disarmament.

He urges Paris to fully comply with its international obligations regarding nuclear disarmament.

Mousavi says the weapon is a threat to international peace and security and testing such weapons weakens the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

Yesterday, the board of the United Nations’ atomic watchdog agency adopted a resolution calling for Iran to provide inspectors access to sites where the country is thought to have stored or used undeclared nuclear material.

— AP