Iran’s Revolutionary Guards test missiles, including the long-range Shahab-3, in the central desert region
Telegraph.CO.UK
Iran flexed its military muscle yesterday by test-firing missiles capable of hitting Israel and local US bases in manoeuvres the hard-line regime codenamed “Great Prophet”.
In what was taken as a clear warning to America, the commander-in-chief of the elite Revolutionary Guards said the tests were intended to display his country’s military strength.
“We want to show our deterrent and defensive power to trans-regional enemies, and we hope they will understand the message of the manoeuvres,” Gen Yahya Rahim Safavi said.
Last night Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, criticised Iran for trying to act “tough” and said it would “suffer greatly” if a weapon was used in anger.
Iranian state television reported the missiles, including the long-range Shahab-3, were fired from mobile launching pads in the country’s central desert region at the opening of 10 days of military operations. The test is the first use of the nuclear-capable version of the Shahab-3, which The Daily Telegraph reported in April was being developed by Iran.
The exercise came just 48 hours after an US Navy-led flotilla in the Gulf exercised close to Iranian territorial waters, practising drills for intercepting ships carrying missiles components and weapons of mass destruction.
Shahab-3 missiles are believed to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and to have a range of more than 1,200 miles, within range of Israel and US military bases in the Middle East. The Shahab-3 is a modified version of the North Korean Nodong missile, based on the Soviet-made Scud.
Among other weapons tested was the Shahab-2, which has a cluster warhead that can send 1,400 bomblets, solid-fuel Zalzal missiles and guided missiles such as Scud-B, Zolfaghar-73 and Z-3, Iranian television said.
As the six missiles were fired from near the holy city of Qom, Gen Safavi and other guardsman were heard shouting: “God is the Greatest”.
Gen Safavi said the military exercises would comprise drills by ground, air and naval forces, including submarines, mainly in the Gulf and Sea of Oman.
Meanwhile, the Iranian-aligned Hizbollah group in Lebanon yesterday rejected White House claims that it and Syria were seeking to topple Beirut’s pro-Western government of prime minister Fuad Siniora as “a blatant interference. . . concerning the Lebanese people’s choices over their government and policies”.
Wild Thing’s comment…….
Iran has shown their cards to the world. I think we have a new version of the card game WAR about to happen.
There is only one way to deal with the threat of Iran and that is with nukes.
I agree John and I think it will happen soon.
I will take Joe Gehr’s words from the Terrorist’s Nightmare Blog( http://www.technonllc.com/blog ) and ask you: do we really think our “ostrich approach” will solve the Iranian threat to western civilization? I certainly don’t!
Who will put an end to this madness and when? For the sake of my children I hope someone does before it’s too late!
HI Sam, there will be something done and a lot more then some slap on the hand sanctions with Iran. Sanctions are baloney imo, at least when it comes to these countries like Iran.
But we will be doing something and my gut tells me soon, not tomorrow but soon!