Iran test-fires missiles, heating tension with West

TEHRAN – Iran test-fired nine missiles yesterday and warned the United States and Israel it was ready to retaliate for any attack over its disputed nuclear projects.

Washington, which says Iran seeks atomic bombs, told Tehran to halt further tests. Iran, the world’s fourth largest oil producer, says its nuclear programme is only for electricity.Iran’s missile tests rattled oil markets, helping crude prices to rebound about $2 a barrel after recent falls.Speculation that Israel could bomb Iran has mounted since a big Israeli air drill last month.US leaders have not ruled out military options if diplomacy fails to end the nuclear row.Revolutionary Guards air force commander Hossein Salami said in televised comments that thousands of missiles were ready to be fired at “pre-determined targets”.Missiles were shown soaring from desert launchpads, leaving long vapour trails.”We warn the enemies who intend to threaten us with military exercises and empty psychological operations that our hand will always be on the trigger and our missiles will always be ready to launch,” he said, according to ISNA news agency.Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, cited by Fars news agency, said Iran’s missile power was only defensive and was “at the service of peace, stability and security in the region”.The White House told Iran to “refrain from further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the world”.But the United States gave no hint to leaders of a group of eight rich nations meeting in Japan this week that it planned to attack Iran, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said.US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, suggested the tests justified plans for US plans for an anti-missile shield, which Russia firmly opposes.”Those who say that there is no Iranian threat against which to be building missile defences perhaps ought to talk to the Iranians about …the range of the missiles that they test fired,” Rice said in Bulgaria.France, Germany and Italy joined criticism of Iran.”These are very dangerous missiles – that’s why the international community and not just Israel has an interest in blocking this escalation in a definitive way,” Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said in Ramallah, in the West Bank.France said the tests heightened international concerns, while Germany voiced regret that Iran had responded to an offer of incentives by world powers with a “gesture of ill will”.US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called for harsher measures against Tehran after the tests.”Iran is a great threat.We have to make sure we are working with our allies to apply tightened pressure on Iran,” he declared.His Republican opponent John McCain voiced support for the missile shield as a defence against Iranian missiles, saying the tests “demonstrate the need for effective missile defence now and in the future, and this includes missile defence in Europe as is planned with the Czech Republic and Poland”.Iran’s State Press TV said the “highly advanced” missiles tested by the Guards included a “new” Shahab 3 missile, which officials have said could reach targets 2 000 km away.Iran has said Israel and US bases are in its range.Nampa-ReutersIran, the world’s fourth largest oil producer, says its nuclear programme is only for electricity.Iran’s missile tests rattled oil markets, helping crude prices to rebound about $2 a barrel after recent falls.Speculation that Israel could bomb Iran has mounted since a big Israeli air drill last month.US leaders have not ruled out military options if diplomacy fails to end the nuclear row.Revolutionary Guards air force commander Hossein Salami said in televised comments that thousands of missiles were ready to be fired at “pre-determined targets”.Missiles were shown soaring from desert launchpads, leaving long vapour trails.”We warn the enemies who intend to threaten us with military exercises and empty psychological operations that our hand will always be on the trigger and our missiles will always be ready to launch,” he said, according to ISNA news agency.Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, cited by Fars news agency, said Iran’s missile power was only defensive and was “at the service of peace, stability and security in the region”.The White House told Iran to “refrain from further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the world”.But the United States gave no hint to leaders of a group of eight rich nations meeting in Japan this week that it planned to attack Iran, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said.US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, suggested the tests justified plans for US plans for an anti-missile shield, which Russia firmly opposes.”Those who say that there is no Iranian threat against which to be building missile defences perhaps ought to talk to the Iranians about …the range of the missiles that they test fired,” Rice said in Bulgaria.France, Germany and Italy joined criticism of Iran.”These are very dangerous missiles – that’s why the international community and not just Israel has an interest in blocking this escalation in a definitive way,” Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said in Ramallah, in the West Bank.France said the tests heightened international concerns, while Germany voiced regret that Iran had responded to an offer of incentives by world powers with a “gesture of ill will”.US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called for harsher measures against Tehran after the tests.”Iran is a great threat.We have to make sure we are working with our allies to apply tightened pressure on Iran,” he declared.His Republican opponent John McCain voiced support for the missile shield as a defence against Iranian missiles, saying the tests “demonstrate the need for effective missile defence now and in the future, and this includes missile defence in Europe as is planned with the Czech Republic and Poland”.Iran’s State Press TV said the “highly advanced” missiles tested by the Guards included a “new” Shahab 3 missile, which officials have said could reach targets 2 000 km away.Iran has said Israel and US bases are in its range.Nampa-Reuters