WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) expressed profound concern in a letter to Secretary Kerry about the October 11th Iranian ballistic missile test.
In the letter, the Senators write: “We are writing to express our profound concern about Iran’s October 11 ballistic missile test…We urge you to consider unilateral and multilateral responses to this ballistic missile test. We believe calibrated pressure on Iran is appropriate due to its clear non-compliance with UNSCR 1929 and to deter future violations.”
The letter appears below.
October 21, 2015
Secretary John Kerry
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Dear Secretary Kerry:
We are writing to express our profound concern about Iran’s October 11 ballistic missile test.
United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power clearly stated that Iran’s test was a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929 which specifically states that “Iran shall not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology.”
We are concerned about the military significance of this test, which is part of a long-term Iranian program that seeks to improve the range and capabilities of its ballistic missiles. We are also convinced that the launch is an attempt to test the world’s will to respond to Iranian violations of its international commitments.
We strongly believe that the ability of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to prevent Iran from fulfilling its nuclear ambitions must be fortified by a zero-tolerance policy to respond to violations of the agreement and of applicable UN resolutions – and a unified plan of action between the United States and our European allies about what specific responses should be deployed to respond to incremental violations.
There must be no ambiguity in our willingness to enforce Iran’s obligations under UN resolutions and the JCPOA.
We urge you to consider unilateral and multilateral responses to this ballistic missile test. We believe calibrated pressure on Iran is appropriate due to its clear non-compliance with UNSCR 1929 and to deter future violations.
Sincerely,
Senator Benjamin L. Cardin
Senator Charles E. Schumer
Senator Richard Blumenthal
Senator Michael Bennet
Senator Christopher Coons
Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Senator Mark R. Warner
Senator Edward J. Markey
Senator Ron Wyden
Senator Christopher Murphy
Senator Cory A. Booker
