US issues stern warning to Iran over missile test

President Donald Trump's national security advisor on Wednesday condemned a recent Iranian missile test and a separate attack on a Saudi navy ship by Yemeni rebels, declaring that America was "officially putting Iran on notice."

“Recent Iranian actions, including a provocative ballistic missile launch and an attack against a Saudi naval vessel conducted by Iran-supported Houthi militants, underscore what should have been clear to the international community all along about Iran’s destabilizing behavior across the Middle East,” said Michael Flynn in his first public remarks since taking office.

Iran confirmed on Wednesday it had tested a new missile but said it did not breach a nuclear accord reached with world powers or a UN Security Council resolution that endorsed the pact.

Flynn however said the missile test violated UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

In a separate incident, two Saudi servicemen were killed in a Houthi attack on a Saudi frigate in the Red Sea, Saudi officials said Monday.

In October, Houthi rebels also targeted a US navy vessel on the Red Sea, just several miles north of the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait, but the missile attack was intercepted.

Weeks earlier, an Emirati vessel was also hit by rebel missiles.

Trump’s national security advisor accused former president Barack Obama's administration of having "failed to respond adequately to Tehran's malign actions," which he said “place American lives at risk.”

Flynn added that instead of being thankful to the US for the nuclear agreement and sanctions relief,  “Iran is now feeling emboldened.” 

As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice,” he said without elaborating on the actions the Trump administration intends to take.

Both Trump and Flynn have been vocal opponents of the Iranian nuclear agreement and regularly criticised the Obama administration for entering the deal.