Iran test-fires missiles in Persian Gulf Israel in striking RANGE

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles Wednesday during war games that officials said aimed to show the country can retaliate against any U.S. or Israeli attack, state television reported.

Oil prices jumped on news of the missile tests, rising US$1.44 to US$137.48 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The military exercise was being conducted at the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about 40 percent of the world's oil passes. Iran has threatened to shut down traffic in the strait if attacked. It was not clear, however, whether the missile test also took place near the strait.

Gen. Hossein Salami, the air force commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, said the exercise would "demonstrate our resolve and might against enemies who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language," the TV report said.

Footage showed at least six missiles firing simultaneously, and said the barrage included a new version of the Shahab-3 missile, which officials have said has a range of 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) and is armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead. The television report did not specify where the launch took place.

That would put Israel, Turkey, the Arabian peninsula, Afghanistan and Pakistan within striking distance.

"Our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch," the official IRNA news agency quoted Salami as saying Wednesday.

The report comes less than a day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed fears that Israel and the United States could be preparing to attack his country, calling the possibility a "funny joke."

"I assure you that there won't be any war in the future," Ahmadinejad told a news conference Tuesday during a visit to Malaysia for a summit of developing Muslim nations.

But even as Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials have dismissed the possibility of attack, Tehran has stepped up its warnings of retaliation if the Americans — or Israelis — do launch military action, including threats to hit Israel and U.S. Gulf bases with missiles and stop oil traffic from the Gulf.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Wednesday's tests "evidence that the missile threat is not an imaginary one."

"Those who say that there is no Iranian missile threat against which we should build a missile defense system perhaps ought to talk to the Iranians about their claims," Rice said while traveling in Sofia, Bulgaria.

On Tuesday, Rice and Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg signed a deal allowing the U.S. to base a missile defense shield in the Czech Republic.

A White House spokesman called the tests "completely inconsistent with Iran's obligations to the world."

"The Iranian regime only furthers the isolation of the Iranian people from the international community when it engages in this sort of activity," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the National Security Council.

"They should also refrain from further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the world," he added, speaking from Japan where President Bush is attending the Group of Eight summit.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said that Iran's missile tests highlight the need for direct diplomacy as well as tougher threats of economic sanctions and strong incentives to persuade Tehran to change its behavior.

John McCain, the Republican seeking the presidency, said the tests demonstrate a need for effective missile defense, including missile defense in Europe and the defense system the U.S. plans with the Czech Republic and Poland.

In late June, Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, who was then the commander of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, said any attempt by Iran to seal off the Strait of Hormuz would be viewed as an act of war. The U.S. 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain, across the Gulf from Iran.

Israel's military sent warplanes over the eastern Mediterranean for a large military exercise in June that U.S. officials described as a possible rehearsal for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, which the West fears are aimed at producing atomic weapons.

Iran says its nuclear program is geared only toward generating electricity, not weapons.

The Israeli exercise was widely interpreted as a show of force as well as a practice on skills needed to execute a long-range strike mission.

Shaul Mofaz, an Israeli Cabinet minister, set off an international uproar last month by saying in a published interview that Israel would have "no choice" but to attack Iran if it doesn't halt its nuclear program. Mofaz is a former military chief and defense minister, and has been Israel's representative in a strategic dialogue on Iran with U.S. officials.

On Wednesday, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Israel "does not desire hostility and conflict with Iran."

"But it is clear that the Iranian nuclear program and the Iranian ballistic missile program is a matter of grave concern," Regev said.

The Guards and Iran's regular army routinely hold exercises two or three times a year.

By AP
Source

What Do you say about it ?
War is near ?
There's also doubts that Iran has Atomic bombs too ?

 

Whats the big deal. Its their right to built and test weapons for their defense like every other country in the world.

 

The big deal is - some in US want to control everything that is connected to making $$$$$$$................... .
Israel on the other hand wants to expand by taking more land and does not like it when others don't agree with their policies.
So here we go ...... Might is right at the moment.

 

Totally agree.
Some countries things that they morales are higher than others.

 

Its time for weak to become mighter than might.

 

I don't know what that means. I believe you should spend some time researching American Weapon Systems. I did it in 2001, when the Afghan War began... I'll give you some sources.

1. http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/index.html
2. http://www.army-technology.com
3. http://www.airforce-technology.com

After you've done that, tell me, is there any country in the world that can defeat the US Forces militarily? A few Iranian Missiles won't do anything.

 

iran tested those missles Shahab 3 many years ago, how it come it became so big deal now!

 

They definitly have state of the art weaponry, no doubt about it. Its the will to fight that matters. US army will always have an option to run back home, Iranians will not have that luxury. This will be the key factor.

 

Iran is AFRAID

Im sure ahmadinejad is prepering his bunkers right now because he will need 'em soon.

...or he can join his friend nasrallah who is hiding in the bunker 700+ days already

 

hehe yeh you should buy a camel too because if they attack iran me and you need the camel to go to work etc.. as oil price hit 500$ a barrel.

 

that made my day

@Lemon116
Its common strategy to avoid wars. also rise morale of that countries ppl. last month there was 100 airplane's demonstrations by israle, that threaten iran, and their ppl may be afraid, as a leader its president's duty is to show their power, and keep their soldiers/ppl morale high. also to avoid a war, else israle may attack, US may not have that much intrest in a war now, as they have to concentrate on election, depression problems and ofcourse iran is not a threat to them (only oil price is now a threat to US ). now they showed their power, so nobody can't make an immediate attack on them. as its sure they already have missiles placed on strategic locations, like all oil fields, if oil price goes up it cause a problem to all countries, so other countries will pressure for 'not war on iraq' atleast for now.

 

I cant say that when i hear F15'S making my house and me shake everyday.

wayyyy to scary.

 

I just read that the picture from the French agency AFP was "photoshopped" with an added rocket

http://www.clarin.com/diario/2008/07/10/um/m-01712237.htm (sorry it's not in English but the pics are clearly showing this)

 

I think Country's should be allowed to build there own weapons to defend themselves

Just my 2 cents anyways

-Chris

 

And anyway, what accuracy do these long-range missiles have?

Theoretically, it may be able to reach Tel Aviv, but in actual fact they are more likely to land in the Mediterranean sea or the Negev desert.

 

Why? Do you think Russian Tech is so bad? You haven't seen it in action, have you?

 

After the illigal wars on Iraq, Yugoslavia, recognising the illigal country Kosovo ................... How can you blame them?

US with this admin is not a just and fair player. That's why there is no peace and security in the world.

 

Funny article - read this

Has Iran joined the axis of Photoshop?

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/2008/07/iranian_missile_tests_not_what.html

 

Iran is bullshitting. They photoshopped the image of them firing the missiles, saying it was 4, when actually they only fired 3 because one failed. And they wasn't even in striking distance of israel. they was like 600 miles short.

They claim that they fired 9 missles that day. The US only counted 7.

Iran is full of shit.

 

They may be saving their missiles, just in case