Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Test-Fires Long-Range Missile

Jerusalem Post: Iran test-fires long-range missile

Iran conducted a test launch Tuesday night of the Shihab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which is capable of reaching Israel and US targets in the region, Israel Radio reported. The test came hours before Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with US President George W Bush in Washington to discuss the Iranian threat.

Military officials said it was not clear if this most recent test indicated an advance in the capabilities of the Shihab 3. They said the test was likely timed to coincide with the Washington summit and with comments made by Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah during celebrations in Beirut marking the 6th anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The extended range of the Shahab-3A (or other designates), putting Europe in its target range.

The range of the Shahab-3

The Iranians are always masters of timing. President Bush meets with the new Israeli Prime Minister and boom a test firing of a missile if enabled with a nuclear warhead would destroy Israel or as Iranian President Ahmadinejad described Israel, “disgraceful blot” that should be “wiped off the face of the earth.”

But, Israel has a number of defenses and a nuclear offensive deterrent.

Israelâ€™s Arrow Missle

And……

MIM-104 Patriot

And the sea based Aegis

The Shihab test was only “partly successful,” according to news reports. The nature of the difficulties was not clear. The Iranians have been working to extend the Shihab 3’s current maximum range of 1,300 kilometers. A year ago, they successfully tested a solid fuel motor for the missile.

In December, Israel’s defense against an Iranian ballistic missile strike, the Arrow 2 missile system, succeeded in intercepting an incoming rocket simulating an Iranian Shihab 3 at an altitude higher than in the previous 13 exercises.

Maj. Elyakim, commander of the Arrow missile battery at Palmahim, told The Jerusalem Post last month that the missile crews were always on high alert, but that they were recently instructed to “raise their level of awareness” because of developments on the Iranian front.

The Arrow missile, he said, could intercept and destroy any Iranian missile fired at Israel, including ones carrying non-conventional warheads. Experts believe that if Iran is attacked by Israel or the US, Teheran would respond by firing long-range ballistic missiles at Israel.

And should Iran ever launch a missile at Israel or United States targets in Iraq or the Persian Gulf, both countries nuclear arsenals WILL come into play.

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT!

This is MORE BLUSTER from Iran and it grows tiresome.

In the meantime, the foolios in Europe and the United Nations press ahead with another initiative.

Stay tuned……

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