...
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told reporters the world is not closer to a military confrontation, even though Iran's missile launch came just days after Israel conducted a high-profile military exercise in the Mediterranean. "What we're seeing is a lot of signaling going on," he said, adding that both Israel and Iran "understand [the] consequences" of military action.
...
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack noted that in recent years, Iran has conducted similar exercises, including missile tests. But analysts said the tests, along with Iranian rhetoric, are meant as highly symbolic warning to Israel and the United States.
"We warn the enemies who intend to threaten us with military exercises and empty psychological operations that our hand will always be on the trigger and our missiles will always be ready to launch," Revolutionary Guards air force commander Hossein Salami said yesterday, according to the official IRNA news agency.
The Iranian naval games, dubbed the "The Great Prophet 3," are taking place at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic Persian Gulf waterway that handles about 40 percent of the world's oil. U.S. and British warships are also conducting exercises in the Persian Gulf.
Iran Launches Nine Test Missiles, Says More Are Ready
Glenn Kessler
The Washington Post
10 July 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/09/AR2008070902395_pf.html
Comments