Iranian General Says ‘Our Missiles Are Ready for Launch’
Just one day after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed an agreement with the Czech Republic to build a missile shield in Europe, Iran demonstrated that it fully intends to move forward with its missile program. The country test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles today that could reach Israel, Turkey, the Arabian peninsula, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to a report from the Associated Press, Iran engaged in the war games in response to supposed U.S. and Israeli threats. “Our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch,” said Gen. Hossein Salami, air force commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards.
The exercise took place near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, where about 40% of the world’s oil passes through, according to the AP.
The White House and presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama criticized the move.
“Iran’s missile tests also demonstrate the need for effective missile defense now and in the future, and this includes missile defense in Europe as is planned with the Czech Republic and Poland,” McCain said. “Working with our European and regional allies is the best way to meet the threat posed by Iran, not unilateral concessions that undermine multilateral diplomacy.”
Obama said: “There’s no doubt we’re seeing rising tensions in the area, and it’s part of the reason why it’s so important for us to have a coherent policy with respect to Iran. It has to combine much tougher threats of economic sanctions with direct diplomacy, opening up channels of communication so that we avoid provocation but we give strong incentives for the Iranians to change their behavior.”
Tags: Barack Obama, Czech Republic, Iran, John McCain, Poland