Iran tests longest-range missiles, adding to pre-talk tensions
The tests come shortly after Iran test-fired medium-range missiles and disclosed work on a secret nuclear facility, and as the US is pushing tougher sanctions.
By David Montero | Correspondent 09.28.09
Iran test-fired several of its longest-range missiles Monday, topping off a dramatic four days in which it also tested medium-range missiles and revealed it has been developing a secret nuclear facility. The developments are adding to the sense of urgency as world powers prepare to meet with the country about its nuclear program on Oct. 1.
The latest tests came as the United States announced another move likely to complicate already contentious talks: that it will pursue tougher economic sanctions against Iran.
The Obama administration is moving fast to assemble the new package of sanctions, which might include blacklisting a large number of Iranian banks and cutting off investment to Iran’s oil and gas industry.
The move has already sparked criticism from US allies and observers: China said it will not support the move, Iraq said the sanctions won’t work, and Israel is demanding even tougher sanctions.
The announcement of more severe sanctions is the latest in a week of tense developments around Iran’s nuclear program. Last week, U.S. officials announced that Iran has been developing a secret nuclear facility in the city of Qom, as the Christian Science Monitor reported, noting that the revelation is likely to “raise the stakes for a scheduled Oct. 1 meeting between Iranian and Western negotiators on the nuclear issue.”
Days later, Iran raised the stakes again by testing a missile-launching system near the site of the Qom facility.
The missiles fired Monday have the longest range in Iran’s arsenal. They can carry a warhead and reach Israel, US military bases in the region, and some areas in Europe, according to the Associated Press.
The incidents have sparked outrage from Israel, which has refused to rule out the possibility of a unilateral strike on Iranian nuclear facilities but has also encouraged the US to seek “crippling” sanctions first. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also refused to rule out a military strike but insisted that the international community focus on diplomacy for the time being.
This week, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates played down the possibility of a military option, saying more severe sanctions could help force a change of government in Iran. Sanctions applied earlier were already having an impact in Iran, he noted, with unemployment at 40 percent. If the economy weakens further, he suggested, the government would be forced to adopt new policies.
The goal of the sanctions would be twofold, reports The New York Times:
In pushing for more stringent sanctions, the administration wants to accomplish two potentially irreconcilable goals: forcing Iran back to negotiations over its nuclear program — which the United States and its Western allies suspect is meant to create a weapon — while at the same time winning the support of Russia and China, which are eager to preserve their significant economic ties to Iran.
In a development that will boost US efforts, Russia seems to have reversed course and pledged support for tougher sanctions, with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev suggesting that sanctions should be applied if diplomacy fails.
China, which has the power to veto sanctions, remains opposed, as the BBC reports:
<< Taliban to Germany: Leave Afghanistan or lose Oktoberfest | Main“We believe that sanctions and exerting pressure are not the way to solve problems and are not conducive for the current diplomatic efforts on the Iran nuclear issue,” [said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu.]
Comments
2. James Raider | 09.28.09
There is a major blunder the MSM seems to have ignored in the negotiating stance with Iran.
Obama gave up a powerful element when he backed off the Europe based missile shield without concessions from Putin.
Russia continues it’s rhetoric, and now there is little chance that Iran’s leadership will fall into line on the nuclear arms front.
http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2009/09/obamas-blunder-on-iran.html
… And forget about sanctions.
———-
3. William | 09.28.09
China remains opposed to sanctions as of now… but what happens when Russia follows suit with the Americans? (http://tinyurl.com/yb22oh7)
We’ll see how long this lasts…
4. Michael Odom | 09.28.09
Either the US or Israel is going to have to nuke the Iranians. Iran doesn’t give a crap about sanctions, they want the bomb no matter what! They don’t even care about their own people, the smart Iranians are already here in the USA.
5. rightofreturn | 09.28.09
The only way to stop America and a country that can not be named from attacking Iran is for to have nukes. Unfortuantely, that is the case. American regime has never attacked a weak country. It has invaded at least 12 countries since end of 2nd world war and has toppled many more through covert action. The only country that has outshined it is the contry that can not be named. Iran has not invaded any country for 300 years. Its military budget is 1/3rd of isreal and one half of Saudi Arabia. It is surrounded by over 80 US bases in the region which have her in their crosshairs. (No they are not there to fight pirates!) I wonder which is the rogue regime in the world and which country is threat to security and peace in the world.
6. edwin daniel | 09.28.09
What a load of bull from Obama, the Monitor and several Commentors.
1) Iran has broken no rule of the Non-Proliferation Treaty which it signed.
2) All intelligience shows Iran is not it the course of developing a nuclear weapon.
3) The nation of Israel, which has broken more international laws than even the USA,and which is in violation of over 30 UN resolutions has nuclear weapons and no one is proposing sacntions agains Israel. The contrast is revealing.
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1. Rich | 09.28.09
So far, assymmetric strategic policies of the 0 administration gave Iran and her co-conspirators exactly what they want, more time to develop missiles and nuclear weapons with an air defense shield.
It is no secret the nation which invented chess sponsors terrorism with Hamas, Hezbollah, Revolutionary Guard and others in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine and Syria. The former Secretary of State called Iran the Central Banker for terrorism.
0 talked nice and shelved missile plans in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, China, Iran, N Korea and Russia developed Iranian missiles with dangerous payloads to reach Europe and Israel, thus destabilizing the Mideast and increasing the likelihood of $300 oil, if CapTrade does not accomplish that.
Now Chavez wants what Iran has with Europe: missiles that can reach all of the Americas.
UN Security Council sanctions vetoed by Chinese and Russian Iranian enablers require a coalition of sanity to protect Western interests before it is too late…