http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/02/world/...html?hpt=hp_t1
Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Iran test-fired a long-range, shore-to-sea missile on Monday, the final day of its naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, state-run media reported.
The Ghader missile was fired during the "power" stage of the maneuvers, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. The test was successful, and the missile hit its intended targets, according to the report.
"A large number of the long-range surface-to-sea Ghader missiles have already been delivered to the Iranian Armed Forces," IRNA said.
A short-range Nasr missile would also be test-fired, along with a surface-to-surface Noor missile, the news agency said.
The Noor is an "advanced radar-evading, target-seeking, guided and controlled missile and can easily find its target and destroy it," IRNA reported, quoting 2nd Adm. Seyed Mahmoud Musavi.
Iran began the exercises in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman on December 24, IRNA said. Western diplomats have described the maneuvers as further evidence of Iran's volatile behavior.
Iran also successfully test-fired a medium-range, surface-to-air and radar-evading Mehrab missile on Sunday, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. A submarine also successfully fired torpedoes at mock vessels, according to the report.
Fars added that plans for Monday involve "a new tactic which is designed to prevent any movement in the Strait of Hormuz if the Iranian navy so desires."
The French Foreign Ministry said Monday the missile tests send a "very bad signal to the international community."
"We want to underline that the development by Iran of a missile program is a source of great concern to the international community," the ministry said in a written statement. That's why Iran is prohibited from "pursuing any activity on ballistic missiles capable of delivering a nuclear (war)head," per a U.N. Security Council resolution, the statement added.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he believes the Iranian exercises and missile tests reflects "the dire straits of Iran in light of the tightening sanctions around her, including the considerations in the last few days regarding the sanctions of exporting petroleum as well as the possibility of sanctions against the Iranian Central Bank."
Because of their "dire situation," Barak said, Iran is "pulling out the envelope of threats in order to deter the world from continuing the sanctions."
The naval exercises focused attention on the strait -- a shipping channel leading in and out of the Persian Gulf between Iran on one coast and Oman and the United Arab Emirates on the other. It is strategically important because tankers carrying oil travel through it -- some 15 million barrels daily in 2009, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Read why Strait of Hormuz is so important
A large number of the long-range surface-to-sea Ghader missiles have already been delivered to the Iranian Armed Forces
Islamic Republic News Agency
Iran last week threatened to close the strait over planned sanctions targeting its oil industry and companies that do business with Iran's Central Bank. The sanctions are intended to force Iran to curtail its nuclear program.
The Obama administration was quick to say any closure would be unacceptable and vowed to keep the strait open. But Iran's Press TV reported on Saturday the nation has no plans to close the strait.
The French Foreign Ministry statement emphasized the need for the "freedom of navigation" in the strait.
On Sunday, Fars reported that Iran had succeeded in building and testing the country's first domestically produced nuclear fuel rod. The rod was successfully tested and installed in the core of a research reactor in Tehran, the news agency said, citing the nation's atomic energy agency website.
Iran has repeatedly insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian energy purposes only. But it has rebuffed demands to halt its production of enriched uranium, and a November 8 report by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog found "credible" information that Tehran has carried out work toward nuclear weapons -- including tests of possible bomb components.
In December, the United States as well as several other Western and Asian nations announced increased sanctions against Iran in an international effort to tighten the screws around the suspected nuclear weapons program.
CNN's Shirzad Bozorgmehr, Saskya Vandoorne and Michael Schwartz contributed to this report.
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Honestly, really the only way to deal with this is to bomb them, and bomb them again.
Let Israel bomb their nuclear facilities, and be done with it. It's the only way to be sure and safe.
These sanctions don't mean squat.
Agreed. Useless.Originally Posted by Cthulhu
But if Israel attacks the facilities:
1. can it get the all?
2. would they need assistance with certain technologies, logistics, operations?
3. What would be the Iranian response in the Straight of Hormuz and to Israel? Region? Oil prices?
Many people die at twenty five and aren't buried until they are seventy five.
Benjamin Franklin
Yes, absolutely.
They also don't need to get them all - just enough to do some real damage and push Iran back 5-7 years in terms of development.
No, they won't need any assistance, and they won't be receiving any assistance.
Officially.
Iran's response? More verbal saber rattling - maybe, at best, shooting a couple of sea-to-sea missiles at other ships - right before the Americans bomb the Iranian navy and the coastal howitzers back to the stone age, and that'd be that.
As long as the Straight of Hormuz remains open (see above) oil prices won't be affected - and the Arabs have already hinted at which side they would be taking, by earlier committing to supply more oil to compensate for any supplies being affected.
In a nutshell, the Iranians are good and well screwed, if someone decided to take out their facilities.
... and the Americans should just do it -- doing it via cruise missiles is far more elegant, and more cost effective, than the Israeli way.
It's possible the Americans would act. I have been doubtful, but now....Arab sentiment (as you note) against Iran, and an election coming up. Potus is "tough" and will act.....?
Hard to say on the latter point.
I thought Iran had the Shihab-3 missile and it could reach Israel, but someone corrected here (in the Soap Box) that it was not a sufficient missile and woefully inaccurate.
We shall see....if it's time to act against Iran, the time to do so is now or soon.....The window may be closing.....
Agreed - then again, the time to act against them, really, was years ago, *before* they had enriched uranium - and the Americans chose to sit on their thumbs and use 'stern language'.
It's the same kind of complacency and stupid arrogant "nothing will happen" attitude that originally led to 9/11
There's a vast difference between claimed specs, and actual reality - anyone can write impressive sounding specs. Delivering on them, verifiably, is what matters.
Iran and North Korea making claims about their missiles is no different than China claiming their missiles have pinpoint accuracy and a 12,000 mile range - yet 90% of their missile tests self-destruct on the launch pad, or crash/explode within 1-2 flight minutes.
Agreed. Those damn Yanks have got too many weapons of war and some culling needs to be done.
If they won't agree to do it then we will just have to do it for them.
We could all sit outside on banana lounges discussing the best way to rebuild a 4WD transmission and agree, through shared stories of conquests supporting our assertions, that there is no basis to the proposition that those least assured of their persuasions are the first to condemn others for theirs.
There's a vast difference between claimed specs, and actual reality - anyone can write impressive sounding specs. Delivering on them, verifiably, is what matters.
Iran and North Korea making claims about their missiles is no different than China claiming their missiles have pinpoint accuracy and a 12,000 mile range - yet 90% of their missile tests self-destruct on the launch pad, or crash/explode within 1-2 flight minutes.
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