TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran test-fired missiles on Sunday to show it was prepared to head off any military threat, four days before the Islamic Republic is due to hold rare talks with world powers worried about its nuclear ambitions.
The missile maneuvers coincide with escalating tension in Iran's nuclear row with the West, after last week's disclosure by Tehran that it is building a second uranium enrichment plant.
News of the nuclear facility south of Iran added a sense of urgency to a crucial meeting in Geneva on Thursday between Iranian officials and representatives of six major powers, including the United States.
An Iranian official warned "fabricated Western clamor" over the new plant would negatively affect the talks at which the six powers want Iran to agree to open its facilities to inspection to prove its program is for power and not nuclear weapons.
Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's IAEA envoy, said, referring to the six powers' concern over the new plant: "This Western approach will have a negative impact on Iran's negotiations with the 5+1 countries."
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Saturday the discovery of the secret nuclear plant in Iran showed a "disturbing pattern" of evasion by Tehran that added urgency to its talks on Thursday with world powers.
Obama warned Iran...
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TEHRAN, Iran – Iran tested its most advanced missiles Monday to cap two days of war games, raising more international concern and stronger pressure to quickly come clean on the newly revealed nuclear site Tehran was secretly constructing.
State television said the powerful Revolutionary Guard, which controls Iran's missile program, successfully tested upgraded versions of the medium-range Shahab-3 and Sajjil missiles. Both can carry warheads and reach up to 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers), putting Israel, U.S. military bases in the Middle East, and parts of Europe within striking distance.
The missile tests were meant to flex Iran's military might and show readiness for any military threat.
"Iranian missiles are able to target any place that threatens Iran," said Abdollah Araqi, a top Revolutionary Guard commander, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
Iran conducted three rounds of missile tests in drills that began Sunday, two days after the U.S. and its allies disclosed the country had been secretly developing an underground uranium enrichment facility. The Western powers warned Iran it must open the site to international inspection or face harsher international sanctions.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hasan Qashqavi said the missile tests had nothing to do with the tension over the site, saying it was part of routine, long-planned military exercises.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he was concerned about the missile tests. He said Iran must immediately resolve issues surrounding its second nuclear enrichment facility with the U.N.'s nuclear agency.
The newly revealed nuclear site has given greater urgency to a key meeting on Thursday in Geneva between Iran and six major powers trying to stop its suspected nuclear weapons program. Solana said those talks are now taking place "in a new context."
Britain said Monday's test further illustrates why Europe and the U.S. have serious concerns about Iran's nuclear intentions.
"This sends the wrong signal to the international community at a time when Iran is due to meet" the six world powers, Britain's Foreign Office said. The six nations are the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she doesn't believe Iran can convince the U.S. and other world powers at the upcoming meeting that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, as Tehran has long claimed. That puts Tehran on a course for tougher economic penalties beyond the current "leaky sanctions," she said.
The nuclear site is located in the arid mountains near the holy city of Qom and is believed to be inside a heavily guarded, underground facility belonging to the Revolutionary Guard, according to a document sent by President Barack Obama's administration to lawmakers.
Qashqavi, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, identified the site as Fordo, a village located 110 miles (180 kilometers) south of the capital, Tehran. The site is 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Natanz, Iran's known industrial-scale uranium enrichment plant.
After strong condemnations from the U.S. and its allies, Iran said Saturday it will allow U.N. nuclear inspectors to examine the site.
Israel has trumpeted the latest discoveries as proof of its long-held assertion that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons.
By U.S. estimates, Iran is one to five years away from having nuclear weapons capability, although U.S. intelligence also believes that Iranian leaders have not yet made the decision to build a weapon.
Iran also is developing ballistic missiles that could carry a nuclear warhead, but the administration said last week that it believes that effort has been slowed. That assessment paved the way for Obama's decision to shelve the Bush administration's plan for a missile shield in Europe, which was aimed at defending against Iranian ballistic missiles.
The Sajjil-2 missile is Iran's most advanced two-stage surface-to-surface missile and is powered entirely by solid-fuel while the older Shahab-3 uses a combination of solid and liquid fuel in its most advanced form, which is also known as the Qadr-F1.
Solid fuel is seen as a technological breakthrough for any missile program as solid fuel increases the accuracy of missiles in reaching targets.
Experts say Sajjil-2 is more accurate than Shahab missiles and its navigation system is more advanced.
State media reported tests overnight of the Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 missiles, with ranges of 185 miles (300 kilometers) and 435 miles (700 kilometers) respectively.
That followed tests early Sunday of the short range Fateh, Tondar and Zelzal missiles, which have a range of 120 miles (193 kilometers), 93 miles (150 kilometers) and 130 miles (200 kilometers) respectively.
Iran's last known missile tests were in May when it fired its longest-range solid-fuel missile, Sajjil-2. Tehran said the two-stage surface-to-surface missile has a range of about 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) — capable of striking Israel, U.S. Mideast bases and southeastern Europe.
For Iran's missiles to be effective: With conventional warheads and the limits of the payload of each missile, wouldn't Iran need a huge cache of missiles? Isn't the shortcut to have an effective missile program, in Iran's case, the production of a more lethal warhead, (chemical, biological, or nuclear) or a WMD? Does anyone still believe Iran's nuclear program is peacefully for energy?
Talking to Iran in any regard doesn't seem very effective. What now? Questions, but no answers thus far from the current administration.
Originally posted by 67NOV: I know we won't do anything, but it seems to be a dare to Israel to do try & do something.
Scary times folks.
Why should Israel be allowed to have the ability to strike Iran with missiles and nuclear weapons, and Iran not be allowed to pose the same threat in defense of thier Nation? Would we sit still for that as a sovereign nation? So they test fired some long range missiles,so what? didnt we do the same thing during our proliferation race with Russia? Didnt other nuclear powers do the same?
What if Russia, China or both told us to disarm and cease any nuclear projects, and gave us an ultimatum? What do you think the response would be? So by what authority do we presume to tell other soveriegn nations what there allowed to do and what there not?
Why should Israel be allowed to have the ability to strike Iran with missiles and nuclear weapons, and Iran not be allowed to pose the same threat in defense of thier Nation?
....well just maybe its that pesky fact Iran has declared the Jews dead when they get that program...????
Originally posted by john2x: Why should Israel be allowed to have the ability to strike Iran with missiles and nuclear weapons, and Iran not be allowed to pose the same threat in defense of thier Nation? Would we sit still for that as a sovereign nation? So they test fired some long range missiles,so what? didnt we do the same thing during our proliferation race with Russia? Didnt other nuclear powers do the same?
Isreal has never threatened to wipe Iran off the map. Iran's leader also denies the holocost
Iran is also the number 1 sponsor of terrorism and would sell a nuke to terrorist that would end up here in the US.
I hope you are not serious John.
Todays politics remind me of an old saying. - "Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas?" - Joseph Stalin
Israel should hit them hard and do it soon. And they will. Ahmadinejad said that he does not believe the holocaust actually happened and wants Israel wiped off the map. He also hates the US. The fact that we have let him get this far is scary, his nuclear program cannot be allowed too go on much further.
Originally posted by Overkill87: Israel should hit them hard and do it soon. And they will. Ahmadinejad said that he does not believe the holocaust actually happened and wants Israel wiped off the map. He also hates the US. The fact that we have let him get this far is scary, his nuclear program cannot be allowed too go on much further.
Don't forget that Iran is the largest State sponser for Terrorist and would likely give a group the bomb to use on us.
Todays politics remind me of an old saying. - "Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas?" - Joseph Stalin
Originally posted by john2x: Why should Israel be allowed to have the ability to strike Iran with missiles and nuclear weapons, and Iran not be allowed to pose the same threat in defense of thier Nation? Would we sit still for that as a sovereign nation? So they test fired some long range missiles,so what? didnt we do the same thing during our proliferation race with Russia? Didnt other nuclear powers do the same?
Isreal has never threatened to wipe Iran off the map. Iran's leader also denies the holocost
Iran is also the number 1 sponsor of terrorism and would sell a nuke to terrorist that would end up here in the US.
I hope you are not serious John.
Imagine what they say about us. No one is saying you dont smash them when they step out of line,Or kill terrorists,but to speculate on what they would do and give ultimatums? Remember we invaded a nation that posed no threat to our national security,removed thier president no matter how much of a monster he was he was thier president and we pushed democracy down thier throats temporarily.
Originally posted by Overkill87: Israel should hit them hard and do it soon. And they will. Ahmadinejad said that he does not believe the holocaust actually happened and wants Israel wiped off the map. He also hates the US. The fact that we have let him get this far is scary, his nuclear program cannot be allowed too go on much further.
Don't forget that Iran is the largest State sponser for Terrorist and would likely give a group the bomb to use on us.
Speculation. And shame on us if they were able to deliver it through our open undefended borders. The only way this country gets hit is when its allowed to be hit.
Originally posted by john2x: Why should Israel be allowed to have the ability to strike Iran with missiles and nuclear weapons, and Iran not be allowed to pose the same threat in defense of thier Nation? Would we sit still for that as a sovereign nation? So they test fired some long range missiles,so what? didnt we do the same thing during our proliferation race with Russia? Didnt other nuclear powers do the same?
Isreal has never threatened to wipe Iran off the map. Iran's leader also denies the holocost
Iran is also the number 1 sponsor of terrorism and would sell a nuke to terrorist that would end up here in the US.
I hope you are not serious John.
Thanks LOA1, sometimes it just doesn't pay to respond to John whne something as ignorant as that is posted.
U.N. inspectors got their first look Sunday inside a once-secret uranium enrichment facility that has raised Western suspicions about the extent of Iran's nuclear program.
The semiofficial Mehr news agency reported the four-member team visited the heavily protected facility, carved into a mountainside south of Tehran. The tour marked the first independent examination of the site, but no results were expected until after the inspectors leave Iran later this week.
The review also coincides with the countdown to Iran's expected decision on whether to accept a U.N.-brokered deal to process its nuclear fuel abroad — a plan designed to ease Western fears about Iran's potential ability to produce weapons-grade material.
The disclosure last month of Iran's second enrichment facility — known as Fordo after a village believed to have the largest percentage of fighters killed in the 1980-88 war with Iraq — raised international suspicion over the extent and aim of Tehran's nuclear program.
But Iran says that by reporting the existence of the site voluntarily to the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, it "pre-empted a conspiracy" against Tehran by the U.S. and its allies who were hoping to present the site as evidence that Iran was developing its nuclear program in secret.
Originally posted by GRAYMAN: I find the fact that Iran only gave the UN 3 days to conduct thier search and the Un going for it as proof as to how irrelevant the UN has become.
GRAYMAN
As opposed to how many days of inspection under King George?
We should refuse to send the inspectors, assume they have WMD’s (Nukes), and bomb the schnitzel out of them.
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
GRAYMAN Posted Sun 25 October 2009 10:08 AM I find the fact that Iran only gave the UN 3 days to conduct thier search and the Un going for it as proof as to how irrelevant the UN has become.
GRAYMAN
Yea the three day time limit leads one t believe they are not dealing in good faith and obviously have hidden facilities aside from the known ones which would mean bombing the known ones would not stop thier nuclear programs without a full scale invasion and occupation. And guess who would be doing that? Israel????
Originally posted by GRAYMAN: I find the fact that Iran only gave the UN 3 days to conduct thier search and the Un going for it as proof as to how irrelevant the UN has become.
GRAYMAN
wtf does Bush have to do with this and what are you insinuating that I want? To bomb and invade Iran? Why dont you try again moron.
GRAYMAN
As opposed to how many days of inspection under King George?
We should refuse to send the inspectors, assume they have WMD’s (Nukes), and bomb the schnitzel out of them.
