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Iran flexed its military muscles today by test-firing up to nine missiles in exercises near the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow strip of water through which much of the world's oil supply passes.The show of force was intended to "demonstrate our resolve and might against enemies" including the United States and Israel-"who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language," said General Hossein Salami, the airforce commander of the Revolutionary Guards.Israel and most US military bases across the Middle East would be within striking distance of some of the missiles fired today including the ballistic Shahab-3, while Iran has repeatedly threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz if it is attacked. "Our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch,"General Salami said. Pentagon sources yesterday reacted cautiously, describing today’s war games as "troop training" similar to exercises Iran staged two years ago. But Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, seized upon the news to deliver a jab at Russia which this week reiterated its fierce opposition to American plans for a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe.Speaking in Bulgaria, she said anyone who thinks the threat from Tehran is imaginary "perhaps ought to talk to the Iranians about their claims".Although President Bush hopes that ever-tougher sanctions will weaken Iran's defiance of the United Nations over its uranium enrichment programme, Israel has continued to threaten an air strike unless Tehran ceases work that it fears will lead to the production of a nuclear weapon.Last month, Israeli warplanes flew over the eastern Mediterranean in what US officials described as a possible rehearsal for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Shaul Mofaz, an Israeli minister, said recently that his country would have "no choice" but to attack if Iran continues to enrich uranium.Diplomats in Washington believe the Iranian leadership is hoping – possibly vainly – that the US presidential election will signal a decisive shift in relations with the West.Britain is among the European countries understood to be concerned that Barack Obama's promise to hold unconditional talks with Iran risks weakening the tough stance on economic sanctions they have adopted at the urging of the White House and at considerable cost to European business.But Mr Obama, the Democratic nominee, has lately begun toughening his language towards the Islamic Republic. Today he said: "Israel has the right to protect itself from serious threats – and Iran is a serious threat."He suggested that further work had to be done with European allies, as well as Russia and China, to persuade them of the need for ever more stringent economic sanctions against Iran, as well as a package of incentives to encourage it to change. He said this would be combined with "the type of direct diplomacy that can lead [Iran] to standing down on issues like nuclear weapons".But John McCain, the Republican nominee, suggested that his rival's promise of direct talks would be a "unilateral concession" that threatens to damage Western unity on Iran.The military exercises today had once again underlined the dangers Iran "poses to its neighbours and to the wider region, especially Israel".He added: "Ballistic missile testing coupled with Iran’s continued refusal to cease its nuclear activities should unite the international community in efforts to counter Iran’s dangerous ambitions. 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.”
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As in the days of Noah....
