Three European powers have warned the UN that Iran is developing nuclear-capable ballistic missiles in violation of a Security Council resolution. A letter sent by the UK, France and Germany says Iran tested a Shahab-3 missile variant "equipped with a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle" that could deliver a nuclear weapon. Such activity is "inconsistent" with a resolution endorsing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, it argues. Iran has denied the allegation. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the letter was a "desperate falsehood" put out by the European powers "to cover up their miserable incompetence in fulfilling bare minimum" of their obligations under the nuclear deal. Security Council Resolution 2231 "calls upon" Iran not to "undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology". Iran has insisted that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and denied that its ballistic missile programme violates the resolution. But the European letter says that video footage of a test posted on social media on 22 April showed the use of a Shahab-3 booster that was "a Missile Technology Control Regime Category-1 system", according to the Associated Press. As such, it was "technically capable of delivering a nuclear weapon".