Iran test fires more missiles

Iran test-fired more long-range missiles in a second round of exercises meant to show that the country can defend itself against any attack by the US or Israel, Iranian state television reported today.

The weapons have “special capabilities” and included missiles launched from naval ships in the Persian Gulf, along with torpedoes and surface-to-surface missiles, the broadcast said.

Iran has frequently warned it would strike back for any attack against it, but it has sharpened its rhetoric since Israel’s military sent warplanes over the eastern Mediterranean in June for a large military exercise that US officials described as a possible rehearsal for a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In response to Iran’s missile launches and military exercises, Israel today put a new spy plane on display at Israel Aerospace Industries headquarters near Tel Aviv.

A brief video clip of the Iranian launches showed two missiles being fired simultaneously in the darkness, followed by red plumes of fire and smoke.

Other footage in Iranian news broadcasts showed the launch of short-range missiles and torpedoes, as well as warships and gunboats firing light and heavy guns.

The acting commander of naval forces for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, General Sardar Khosravi, said that the military exercises have been centred around Bushehr province, where Iran’s first nuclear power plant is under construction. Other drills have been taking place in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Guards carried out two years of preparation for the manoeuvres, General Khosravi said.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran that Washington will not back down in the face of threats against Israel.

“We are sending a message to Iran that we will defend American interests and the interests of our allies,” Ms Rice said today in Georgia at the close of a three-day Eastern European trip.

Among the missiles Iran said it tested yesterday was a new version of the Shahab-3, which officials have said has a range of 1,250 miles and is armed with a one-ton conventional warhead.

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

Yesterday’s missile tests were conducted at the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which up to 40% of the world’s oil passes.

Iran has threatened to shut down traffic in the strait if attacked. Oil prices jumped on news of the tests.

French energy giant Total SA later announced it would not invest in Iran for now because of what it said were unfavourable political conditions.

“The conditions are not present for investing in Iran today,” said Total spokeswoman Lisa Wiler. “We hope that the political relations will improve so that we can invest.”

Total had been in discussions for developing a liquefied natural gas project linked to Iran’s South Pars gas field with Malaysia’s Petronas.

But Total and oil majors have been under increasing political pressure from the US and its allies over their activities in Iran amid mounting tension over Iran’s nuclear programme, which the US and other countries fear is aimed at building weapons. Tehran insists its programme is for producing nuclear energy.

Israel’s defence minister hinted today that Israel was ready to attack Iran’s nuclear programme, saying it didn’t balk before “when its vital security interests” were at stake.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak was alluding to Israel’s 1981 airstrike on an unfinished Iraqi nuclear reactor.

“Israel is the strongest country in the region and has proved in the past that it doesn’t hesitate to act when its vital security interests are at stake,” Mr Barak told a meeting of his Labour Party.

But he quickly tempered his remarks, noting that “the reactions of enemies... need to be taken into consideration as well.”