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Restraint urged as Iran tests missiles
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-11 06:56 China Thursday reacted to recent missile tests by Iran, saying all sides should take steps "conducive" to peace and stability in the Middle East. "We are worried over what is going on in the region. Since the situation in the Middle East is complicated and sensitive, we hope all sides will take measures conducive to safeguarding peace and stability in the region," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said. On July 4, Iran responded to a package of incentives proposed by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, the UK, France, Russia and China - and Germany, to persuade it to give up its uranium enrichment program.
Liu confirmed that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had received a letter from his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, which said Iran was ready to hold constructive talks as soon as possible with the six countries and the European Union. But tension seemed to rise after Iranian state TV and radio said Thursday that the Revolutionary Guards had fired more ground-to-sea, surface-to-surface and sea-to-air missiles overnight. Long-range missiles, too, were tested. Among the missiles Iran said it tested on Wednesday was a new version of the Shahab-3, which according to officials has a range of about 2,000 km and is armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead. Besides, Iran has threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for Gulf oil exports, if it is attacked. Up to 40 percent of the world's oil passes through the strait.
Teheran insists its nuclear program has only civilian goals. But Washington fears Teheran wants to master the technology to build nuclear weapons. After Iran test-fired the missiles on Wednesday, the US said it should halt further tests if it wanted to gain the world's trust. Speculation that Israel could bomb Iran has mounted since a big Israeli air drill last month. And US leaders have not ruled out military options if diplomacy fails to end the nuclear row. Iran has responded by saying it will strike back at Tel Aviv, as well as US interests and ships and other maritime facilities, if it is hit. It said missiles test-fired during the ongoing war games included ones that could hit Israel and US bases. In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu, however, said China believed that talks on Iran's nuclear issue could be resumed. He hoped all parties would insist on seeking a solution through diplomatic means, show flexibility and resume talks as soon as possible. "Dialogue and negotiations should be the way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue," he said. On a visit to the former Soviet republic of Georgia, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Washington would defend American interests and those of its allies. "We take very, very strongly our obligation to help our allies defend themselves and no one should be confused about that," Rice said. The Pentagon is carrying out studies to determine what exactly Iran had test-fired and to gauge its missile capabilities. In Jerusalem, Israel's defense minister has hinted at its readiness to attack Iran, saying Israel "has proved in the past that it won't hesitate to act when its vital security interests are at stake." But Defense Minister Ehud Barak quickly noted that "the reactions of (Israel's) enemies need to be taken into consideration as well." Xinhua - Agencies |
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