West warns Iran over nuclear tests
Iran test-fired nine missiles yesterday and warned America and Israel it was ready to retaliate for any attack over its disputed nuclear projects.
Washington, which says Iran seeks atomic bombs, told Tehran to halt further tests. Iran says its nuclear programme is only for electricity.
Iran’s missile tests rattled oil markets, helping crude prices to rebound about $2 a barrel after recent falls.
Speculation that Israel could bomb Iran has mounted since a big Israeli air drill last month. American leaders have not ruled out military options if diplomacy fails to end the nuclear row.
Revolutionary Guards air force commander Hossein Salami said in televised comments that thousands of missiles were ready to be fired at “pre determined targets”. Missiles were shown soaring from desert launchpads, leaving long vapour trails.
“We warn the enemies who intend to threaten us with military exercises and empty psychological operations that our hand will always be on the trigger and our missiles will always be ready to launch,” he said, according to ISNA news agency.
The White House told Iran to “refrain from further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the world.”
But America gave no hint to leaders of the G8 nations meeting in Japan this week that it planned to attack Iran, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said.
In Washington, an American official told a Congressional panel that Iran had made only “modest” progress in its nuclear programme because of U.N. sanctions.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the tests justified plans for an anti-missile shield with bases in Europe.