Despite nuclear deal, Iran's ballistic missile program continues unabated

Iran's missile program has accelerated since the signing of the nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers in 2015, a new report by the National Council of Resistance of Iran revealed.

According to NCRI's findings, which were made public at a press conference held at the council's Washington office on Tuesday, the scope of Iran's missile program is much more extensive than was previously thought.

The report indicates that the Revolutionary Guards, which is in charge of Iran's ballistic missile program, has been carrying out operations at 42 locations, 12 of which were previously unknown. One of the reported missile complexes is tied to SPND, the organization in charge of pursuing the building of nuclear bombs.

The information disclosed by the NCRI were obtained by the People's Mojahedin of Iran (PMOI/MEK), the group that first revealed Iran's illicit nuclear program.

In an interview with Fox News, Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the NCRI's U.S. office, said, "The findings show the first full picture of the missile program of the Iranian regime, which is very extensive and costly. It also shows a close tie between the nuclear weapons program and the missile program."

This latest report comes against the backdrop of the Iranian regime facing setbacks at home, in the region and across the world.

"Tehran has accelerated its missile program to make up for its domestic impotence and increasing regional isolation," Jafarzadeh said. "The missile program of the regime is essential for its survival. Unfortunately the missile program of the Iranian regime has remained primarily unchecked."

The nuclear accord, also known as the JCPOA, failed to address a range of threats posed by the Iranian regime, including its terrorist meddling in countries of the region, its ballistic missile program and its abysmal human rights record.

The Obama administration, which spearheaded the negotiations that led to the hammering of the deal, believed the incentives provided by the JCPOA would dampen Iran's evil ambitions. Tuesday's revelations proved once again how wrong-placed those hopes were.

Iran has largely taken advantage of the appeasement policy and hands-off approachadopted by the previous administration to pursue its illicit agendas, marked by several ballistic missile tests and launches since signing the JCPOA.

Recent developments, however, show that the tide is shifting against the Iranian regime.

Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that, if approved by the House and signed by President Trump, will slap new sanctions against the Iranian regime for its ballistic missile development, arms transfers, support for terrorism, and human rights violations.

Also, at a recent summit in Riyadh, leaders of major Arab nations underlined the dangerous nature of Iran's ballistic missile program and expressed their commitment to confront Tehran's subversive and destructive activities inside their countries.

The NCRI representatives reiterated that the Iranian people deeply oppose the regime's nuclear and missile program and its interference in the region, and called for the enactment of further sanctions against the Iranian regime's missile program and all entities that are affiliated to it. They also called for the expulsion of Iran's forces and proxies from Syria and Iraq, and the terrorist designation of the Revolutionary Guards, a measure that will be crucial to curbing Iran's nefarious deeds in the region.

Amir Basiri (@amir_bas) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog. He is an Iranian human rights activist.

If you would like to write an op-ed for the Washington Examiner, please read our guidelines on submissions here.