Pompeo said the US has continuously cautioned that ballistic missile and SLV launches by Iran have a destabilising effect on the region and beyond. France, Germany, the UK and many other nations have also expressed deep concern. Recently, Iran's ministry of defence announced plans to launch three SLVs soon.
After abandoning the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, US President Donald Trump is trying to force Tehran to quash not only its nuclear ambitions and its ballistic missile programme but its support for militant proxies in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.
The sleek single-stage missile was launched on Tuesday from a mobile launcher from launch pad 4 of the integrated test range (ITR). The launch of the surface-to-surface missile was undertaken as a part of periodic training activity by the strategic forces command from Abdul Kalam island to consolidate operational readiness, sources said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced the country's first indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant successfully completed its "first deterrence patrol", which signifies the underwater predator has undertaken its maiden long-range mission with "live" nuclear-tipped missiles.