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WORLD> Photo
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Under pressure for nukes, Iran test fires missiles
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-09-28 08:19
The nuclear site was revealed in the arid mountains near the holy city of Qom is believed to be inside a heavily guarded, underground facility belonging to the Revolutionary Guard, according to a document sent by US President Barack Obama's administration to lawmakers. After the strong condemnations from the US and its allies, Iran said Saturday it will allow UN nuclear inspectors to examine the site. Israel has trumpeted the latest discoveries as proof of its long-held assertion that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons. "The revelation of the secret Iranian facility also demonstrates to even the most skeptical people the evil intentions of Iran," said Danny Ayalon, Israel's deputy foreign minister. "The Iran's ongoing military maneuvers including the last one and all their missile tests are a huge challenge to the international community," he added in an interview with Israel's Channel 10 Sunday. By US estimates, Iran is one to five years away from having nuclear weapons capability, although US intelligence also believes that Iranian leaders have not yet made the decision to build a weapon. Iran also is developing ballistic missiles that could carry a nuclear warhead, but the administration said last week that it believes that effort has been slowed. That assessment paved the way for Obama's decision to shelve the Bush administration's plan for a missile shield in Europe, which was aimed at defending against Iranian ballistic missiles. Salami said Iran would test medium-range Shahab-1 and Shahab-2 missiles on Sunday night and a longer-range Shahab-3 missiles on Monday, during drills set to last several days. Iran's last known missile tests were in May when it fired its longest-range solid-fuel missile, Sajjil-2. Tehran said the two-stage surface-to-surface missile has a range of about 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) -- capable of striking Israel, US Mideast bases and southeastern Europe. |
