Europeans warn Iran over nuclear-capable missile development

The United Kingdom, France and Germany have accused Iran of developing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, claiming the move goes against UN Security Council resolutions.

Ambassadors from the three European nations asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a letter circulated to inform the council in his next report that Iran's ballistic missile exercise is "inconsistent" with the 2015 nuclear deal.

The letter cites footage released on social media on April 22 of a previously unseen flight test of a new Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile variant "equipped with a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle".

The Europeans noted that a 2015 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded: "that extensive evidence indicated detailed Iranian research in 2002-03 on arming the Shahab-3 with a nuclear warhead".

US officials have also said Iran is working to obtain nuclear-capable missiles, something the Iranians deny.