WORLD> Middle East
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WORLD> Middle East
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Iran tests missiles, vows to hit back
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-10 08:36 Iran test-fired nine missiles Wednesday 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 Teheran to halt further tests. Iran, the world's fourth largest oil producer, says its nuclear program 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. But the United States gave no hint to G8 leaders meeting in Japan this week that it planned to attack Iran, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said. "No mention of a military option (was made) by the United States," he said in Toyako, Japan. Revolutionary Guards air force commander Hossein Salami said in televized comments that thousands of missiles were ready to be fired at "pre-determined targets". Missiles were shown soaring from desert launchpads, leaving long vapor 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. The White House told Iran to "refrain from further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the world". US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called for harsher measures against Teheran 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 a US missile shield as a defense against Iranian missiles. The tests "demonstrate the need for effective missile defense now and in the future, and this includes missile defense in Europe as is planned with the Czech Republic and Poland," McCain said in a statement. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suggested the tests justified plans for such a system, which Russia firmly opposes. "Those who say that there is no Iranian threat against which to be building missile defenses perhaps ought to talk to the Iranians about ... the range of the missiles that they test fired," Rice said in Bulgaria. 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. Some US facilities across the Gulf are little more than 200 km from Iran's coast. The United States has air and naval bases in nearby Arab states, including Qatar and Bahrain. Iran has said US forces are vulnerable because of their presence in two of its neighbors, Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, conduit for about 40 percent of globally traded oil, if it is attacked. The US military says it will prevent any such action. An aide to Iran's Supreme Leader was quoted as saying on Tuesday that his country would hit Tel Aviv, US shipping in the Gulf and US interests in reply to any military strike. Agencies |
