The State Department says Iran's apparent decision to test ballistic missiles on Tuesday is not a violation of the Iran nuclear agreement, even though it may violate another part of the United Nations resolution that contains the nuclear deal.

State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the government is still trying to assess whether Iran tested ballistic missiles, as reported by the press. Kirby did allow that based on those reports, "Iran has just concluded several ballistic missile tests."

But he said even if the reports are accurate, they would not violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear program.

"Such tests, if they are true, are not a violation of the JCPOA," Kirby said. "If they are true, we have every intention of raising to the U.N. Security Council."

Kirby later went beyond saying the government has "every intention" of raising it at the United Nations, and clarified that once confirmed, "then we will raise it with the U.N."

The Iran nuclear agreement is a part of U.N. Security Council resolution 2231, and that resolution also includes language calling on Iran to end its ballistic missile activities. But Kirby said today's apparent missile test would only violate the missile portion of the resolution, and not the language dealing with Iran's nuclear program.

Kirby said of anyone who confuses the two, "technically, they'd be incorrect."

Kirby was asked a few times why the U.S. trusts Iran to implement the nuclear portion of the resolution given its willingness to violate the missile language. Kirby said the U.S. doesn't necessarily trust Iran, but said the U.S. is "certain" that Iran has not violated the nuclear language so far.

On Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it would not publicly report on Iran's failures, which critics immediately said will make it impossible for the public to know where Iran might be failing in the agreement. But Kirby indicated that State has no objection to the IAEA's decision, and said Iran's implementation, as judged by the IAEA, is "what matters."

On Tuesday, Kirby largely reiterated those comments.