UNSC to meet on Iran missile launch issue

The UN Security Council will meet Tuesday on Iran missile launch issue.

The world body is meeting at the request of France and Britain after they accused Iran of test-firing a medium-range missile at the weekend.

The United States has said the missile launch on Saturday was a violation of a UN resolution that endorses the 2015 Iran nuclear deal from which Washington has withdrawn.

France and Britan have also expressed concern over the missile test-firing by Iran.

The UN resolution that endorses the 2015 nuclear deal calls on Iran to refrain from testing missiles capable of carrying a nuclear weapon.

Iran has long maintained that its missile program is defensive in nature and not aimed at ensuring the delivery of a nuclear weapon, a stance supported by Russia at the Security Council.