Official says Iran missiles no threat

Published: July 11, 2008 at 3:12 PM
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An Iranian Shahab-3 missile is launched during a military maneuver dubbed "al-Rasoul al-Aazam," or Greater Prophet, in the Persian Gulf 1,000 kilometers south of Tehran on July 9, 2008. The Iranian military reportedly test-fired nine missiles Wednesday, including one that Tehran claims can reach Israel. The missiles tested were long and medium range arms, including a new version of the Shahab-3 Iranian officials said can strike targets 1,250 miles away, the New York Times reported. Iran warned Israel and the United States it would retaliate against an attack. Israel has expressed concern about Iran's nuclear capabilities. (UPI Photo/Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards office)
An Iranian Shahab-3 missile is launched during a military maneuver dubbed "al-Rasoul al-Aazam," or Greater Prophet, in the Persian Gulf 1,000 kilometers south of Tehran on July 9, 2008. The Iranian military reportedly test-fired nine missiles Wednesday, including one that Tehran claims can reach Israel. The missiles tested were long and medium range arms, including a new version of the Shahab-3 Iranian officials said can strike targets 1,250 miles away, the New York Times reported. Iran warned Israel and the United States it would retaliate against an attack. Israel has expressed concern about Iran's nuclear capabilities. (UPI Photo/Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards office) | Enlarge Enlarge
TEHRAN, July 11 (UPI) -- Iran's missile capability, shown off this week in its first test, poses no threat to the region or Europe, an Iranian official said Friday.

The tests were merely a military exercise but showed Iran is ready to fight off any threat, Mohammad-Esmail Kowsari, the deputy head of Majlis National Security and the Foreign Policy Commission, told the IRNA news service.

"Defense doctrine of the Islamic Republic (of Iran) is based on self-defense," he said. "Since the

U.S. and the Zionist Regime have newly planned an all-out threat against Iran, the Islamic Republic's armed forces showed in an exercise their high defensive power to defend the Islamic land's territory and independence."

Kowsari said Iran has never pursued nuclear energy for non-peaceful purposes because "our religion and Islamic morals ban it and the (the U.N. regulatory agency) has necessary control and supervision over it."


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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