Trump, Johnson Discuss Iran in Phone Call

US President Donald Trump telephoned on Friday Boris Johnson to congratulate him on becoming British prime minister.

The two leaders discussed a number of issues, including current tensions with Iran, following the recent seizure of a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, said the British government.

“They ended by looking forward to seeing each other at the G7 summit in Biarritz next month,” the statement said.

Earlier, US officials revealed that Iran had test-launched a medium-range ballistic missile inside its borders, defying Trump administration demands that it curtail the weapon program and demonstrating its intent to further push back against US sanctions.

The test came amid heightened tensions between Iran and the West, mainly over the safety of commercial shipping in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

A White House spokesman called the test launch an example of Iran "acting out" as a result of intense pressure from US economic sanctions.

"You've seen their economy teetering on the verge of collapse for a while now. And when they're backed into a corner, they're acting out," said spokesman Hogan Gidley, who also said Trump wants to begin conversations with Iran's leaders.

Iran has responded to stepped-up US economic sanctions with a variety of military moves, and the Shahab-3 missile test launch could be considered another signal from Tehran that it will not back down.

Tensions have mounted with Iran over a 2015 nuclear accord it reached with world powers. The deal eased sanctions in exchange for Iran curbing its nuclear program.

Trump withdrew the United States from the accord last year, reinstating sanctions on Iran and adding new ones. Iran has openly exceeded the uranium enrichment levels set in the accord to try to pressure Europe into offsetting the economic pain of US sanctions.

Trump insists that Iran must agree to limits on its ballistic missile program, but Iran thus far has refused.

Nations still party to the nuclear deal plan to meet in Vienna on Sunday to see to what extent the agreement can be saved. The European Union said the meeting of officials from China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany will be chaired by the EU.