Iranian missile tests "a warning"
Sunday, 13 Jul 2008 11:59
Series of Iranian missile tests "clear warning" to country's enemies, senior general says
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This week's multiple missile tests by
Iran were a demonstration of the nation's power and "a clear warning" to the country's enemies, a top military commander has said.
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said extensive military exercises this week were aimed at improving the battle readiness of Iran's defecse forces to face any threat.
The manoeuvres, codenamed Great Prophet III, involved land, air, and naval units of the IRGC and included multiple missile tests, including the latest version of the Shahab-3, a long range ballistic missile carrying a one-tonne conventional warhead.
The general said the exercises were a direct response to recent threats to the security of Iran by
Israel and the US.
Senior officials reassured regional neighbours that this week's demonstration of Iran's military power was a signal that Tehran had the ability to guarantee the security of the Gulf and the strategic Straits of Hormuz against foreign interference.
In related developments, a number of western media outlets have raised doubts about the authenticity of this week's tests.
The New York Times claimed photographs of Wednesday's missile test had been digitally altered to hide what appeared to be the failure of one missile to ignite and leave its mobile launch vehicle.
There has been no immediate reaction to the claims by official sources in Iran.