http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/09/iran.usa
Barack Obama calls for tougher Iran sanctions after missile tests
* Angela Balakrishnan and agencies
Iran sends missile test warning
The US Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama, called for
tighter sanctions on Iran today after it fired nine test missiles that
were capable of hitting American and Israeli bases.
"Iran is a great threat. We have to make sure we are working with our
allies to apply tightened pressure on Iran," the Illinois senator
said.
Iran demonstrated its military force with the test-flight of nine long
and medium-range missiles in the strategic Strait of Hormouz, through
which 40% of the world's oil p*****.
Tehran said the exercise was in retaliation to threats from the US and
Israel over its disputed nuclear projects, which it claims are
civilian.
Obama said if he were to be elected president, he would combine more
direct diplomacy with the threat of much tougher economic sanctions.
"I think what this underscores is the need for us to create a kind of
policy that is putting the burden on Iran to change behaviour, and
frankly we just have not been able to do that over the last several
years," Obama said.
He cited re****ts that US ex****ts to Iran have increased under George
Bush, even as the administration has toughened its rhetoric.
Earlier, the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, said the "war
games" justified America's defence plans with bases in eastern Europe.
She said the tests were "evidence that the missile threat is not an
imaginary one."
"Those who say there is no Iranian missile threat against which we
should build a missile defence system perhaps ought to talk to the
Iranians about their claims."
Her comments were backed by the Republican presidential candidate,
John McCain. He said the tests "demonstrate the need for effective
missile defence now and in the future, and this includes missile
defence in Europe as is planned with the Czech Republic and Poland".
These plans are strongly opposed by Russia.
But the Kremlin, which has resisted US calls for tougher UN sanctions
on Iran, said it shared concerns about Tehran's nuclear programme.
Speaking from Japan, where Bush attended the G8 summit, the White
House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the Iranians should "refrain from
further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the
world".
"The Iranian regime only furthers the isolation of the Iranian people
from the international community when it engages in this sort of
activity," he said.
Wa****ngton said Iran's development of ballistic missiles violated UN
security council resolutions. But it added that the US was committed
to pursuing a diplomatic solution to the impasse over Iran's nuclear
ambitions.
The practice shots by Iran's elite revolutionary guards were another
in a series of conflicting messages coming out of the country over its
nuclear programme and relations with the US and Israel.
General Hossein Salami, the guards' navy commander, told state
television today that the test missiles exercise, called "The Great
Prophet 3", would "demonstrate our resolve and might against enemies
who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language".
An Iranian news agency quoted Salami as saying: "Our hands are always
on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch."
But less than a day ago, the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
dismissed fears that Israel and the United States could be preparing
to attack his country, calling the possibility a "funny joke".
At a press conference during a visit to Malaysia yesterday,
Ahmadinejad said: "I assure you that there won't be any war in the
future."
The G8 expressed "serious concern" over the risks posed by Iran's
nuclear programme and urged Tehran to suspend all uranium
enrichment-related activities.
"We call on Iran to respond to the updated incentives package in a
constructive manner," a G8 statement said today. "We also urge Iran to
act in a more responsible and constructive manner in the region,
particularly in the context of the Middle East peace process and the
stability of Iraq and Afghanistan."
Television re****ts said the missiles fired included a new version of
the Shahab-3 missile, which officials have said has a range of 1,250
miles and is equipped with a conventional warhead weighing a tonne.
Such a missile could reach Israel, Turkey, Afghanistan or Pakistan.
--
"Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government
talking
about wiretap, it requires -- a wiretap requires a court order.
Nothing has
changed, by the way. When we're talking about chasing down terrorists,
we're
talking about getting a court order before we do so"
-George W. Bush, April 20, 2004
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