US Naval Institute: While complying with the terms of the nuclear weapons agreement, Iran will continue to test and improve the range and accuracy of its ballistic missiles to deter or coerce potential adversaries — the United States operating in the region, Gulf Arab states, Turkey and Israel – four Middle East experts said last week.

“The missile program was not directly affected by that agreement” covering the nuclear weapons program, Zalmay Khalilzad, a former ambassador and now a counselor to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Friday.

That has been the opening Iran uses to continue working on its missiles.

Bilal Saab, co-author of a new issue briefing paper on Iran’s missile program for the Atlantic Council, said, Tehran understands it faces a powerful set of adversaries [the United States, United Kingdom, France, Israel and the Arab Gulf states] if Tehran forces a confrontation.

But by playing its cards carefully on its missile program it can test the Gulf Cooperation Council’s ability to react, the relationship between the council and the United States and Washington’s resolve to act in a challenge — say an attack on a GCC radar site — to partners but not treaty allies, he said >>>