US vows to remain ‘relentless’ to deter Iran missile program

Iran's new 1,000km range missile on display this week. (AFP)
Updated 08 February 2019
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US vows to remain ‘relentless’ to deter Iran missile program

  • Iran's Revolutionary Guards unveiled a new ballistic missile with a range of 1,000 kilometres (620 miles)
  • "Iran's blatant disregard for international norms must be addressed," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said

WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday vowed to remain "relentless" in pressuring Iran to deter its missile program after the country unveiled a new ballistic weapon days after testing a cruise missile.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards unveiled a new ballistic missile with a range of 1,000 kilometres (620 miles), their official news agency Sepah News reported.
The move was the latest show of military might by the country as it celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution at a time of heightened tensions with the United States.
"Iran's blatant disregard for international norms must be addressed," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement.
"We must bring back tougher international restrictions to deter Iran's missile program," he added.
"The United States will continue to be relentless in building support around the world to confront the Iranian regime's reckless ballistic missile activity, and we will continue to impose sufficient pressure on the regime so that it changes its malign behavior - including by fully implementing all of our sanctions."
Tehran reined in most of its nuclear program under a landmark 2015 deal with major powers but has kept up development of its ballistic missile technology.
President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the nuclear accord in May and reimposed sanctions on Iran, citing the program among its reasons.

"Iran's latest missile launch again proves the Iran deal is doing nothing to stop Iran's missile program," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted late Thursday.
Iran and the other signatories have stuck by the 2015 agreement, although some European governments have demanded an addition to address Tehran's ballistic missile program and its intervention in regional conflicts.
Meanwhile, UN Security Council Resolution 2231 - adopted just after the nuclear deal - calls on Iran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons".
Tehran insists that its missile development program is "purely defensive" and compliant with the resolution.
 


Syrian authorities arrest leader of terrorist cells in Lattakia

Updated 28 January 2026
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Syrian authorities arrest leader of terrorist cells in Lattakia

  • Ali Aziz Sbeira is accused of violating civilians’ rights during the Syrian uprising after 2011

LONDON: Syrian authorities have arrested Ali Aziz Sbeira, a prominent leader of terrorist cells responsible for attacks on internal security checkpoints, the Syrian army and civilians during the country’s uprising against the former regime of Bashar Assad.

The Internal Security Directorate announced on Wednesday the capture of Sbeira in Lattakia province, located on the Mediterranean Sea.

Authorities accuse him of leading and supplying arms to terrorist groups. Hailing from the town of Jableh, Sbeira is also accused of having links to Ghiyath Dalla and Brigadier General Nours Makhlouf, two military figures associated with the former rule of Assad.

Sbeira is accused of violating civilians’ rights during the Syrian uprising after 2011, when he joined the National Defense Militia and helped suppress peaceful demonstrations, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.

In 2014, he joined the 4th Armoured Division, which was commanded by Maher Assad, brother of the former president, from 2018 until the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024.