Iran has tested two short-range missiles[ 420 ]

Iran missile tests stoke tensions

The missiles tested are believed to have short ranges (BBC)-Sunday, 27 September 2009 09:36 UK Iran has tested two short-range missiles and announced plans for a controversial long-range missile test, state TV reports. It says the short-range missiles were the Tondar and Fateh, with a reported range of up to 170km (100 miles). Tehran said it would test a long-range Shahab-3 missile, believed to be capable of reaching Israel, on Monday. The tests come amid mounting tensions between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The tests are likely to be seen as a gesture of defiance by Iran, says the BBC's Tehran correspondent, Jon Leyne. Earlier this week, Iran disclosed that it was building a second uranium enrichment plant, despite UN demands it cease its enrichment activities. MAXIMUM MISSILE RANGE Shahab-3b: 2,500km Sajjil-1 and 2: 2,000km Shahab-3a: 1,800km Shahab-3: 1,300km Shahab-2: 500km Zelzal: up to 400km Fateh: 170km Tondar: 150km Sources: GlobalSecurity.org, AFP, Jane's, Arms Control Association Iran's arsenal of missiles Slow but sure missile advance President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted that the plant, near the holy city of Qom, did not breach UN regulations and said it was open for inspection by UN experts. But leaders of the US, Britain and France accused Tehran of keeping the plant secret in breach of UN rules. They raised the prospect of new, tougher sanctions against Iran if it does not fully co-operate with global powers. Iran is due to meet with representatives of the so-called P5 + 1 on 1 October to discuss a range of issues, including its nuclear plans. The P5 + 1 groups together the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, China, the UK and France - along with Germany. 'Mock targets' Iran's state-run al-Alam and Press TV channels said on Sunday that the short-range missiles test-fired during military exercises were of Tondar-69 and Fateh-110 type. ANALYSIS BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne It's not the first time the Shahab missile has been tested but it's still likely to provoke condemnation in Western capitals. Rightly or not this will be seen as a gesture of defiance by Iran. It comes two days after the existence was revealed of a previously undisclosed nuclear plant, thought the test itself is likely to have been planned well in advance. It aired footage of a missile launch in desert-like terrain, without giving specifics on the range of the missiles or other details. Western defence experts believe the Fateh, or Conqueror, missile has a range of up to 170km (100 miles), while the Tondar (Thunder) can travel up to 150km (93 miles). Iran says the Shahab-3 (Meteor-3), which was first tested in July 2008, can fly some 2,000km, which makes it capable of hitting Israel and US bases in the Gulf. However, Western defence experts believe it could strike targets up to 1,300km (807 miles) away. The experts say Iran's claim of the longer range could indicate that the 2008 test involved a newer, modified version of the Shahab 3, perhaps the rumoured Shahab 3b, which Iran says would have a range of up to 2,500km (1553 miles). Many believe Iran is attempting to develop its Shahab missiles to carry nuclear warheads, but analysts say perfecting this ability is a complex process. Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced on Saturday they would begin war games - codenamed The Great Prophet IV - to "improve the Islamic Republic armed forces' defence capabilities".