Mike Pompeo: 'Iran needs to be held accountable'

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Iran "needs to be held accountable" after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched its first satellite into space.

The launch Wednesday dramatically revealed what experts described as a secret military space program.

"When you talk about the U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, I think every nation has an obligation to go to the United Nations and evaluate whether this missile launch was consistent with that Security Council resolution," said Pompeo.

"They've now had a military organization that the United States has designated terrorists attempt to launch a satellite."

They worry the launch could advance Tehran's ballistic missile development amid wider tensions between the Islamic Republic and the U.S..

Iran insists its space program is peaceful, but the Guard wasn't known to have a space program until the launch.

While the U.S., Israel and other countries declined to immediately confirm the satellite reached orbit, their criticism of the launch suggested they believed it had.

The launch also comes amid a monthslong series of escalating attacks between Tehran and Washington.

And Wednesday, President Donald Trump says he's ordered the Navy to “shoot down and destroy” any Iranian gunboats found to be harassing U.S. ships.

Trump made the announcement on Twitter but provided no details.