The Iranian Regime's Missiles "Ready to Destroy Israel"

The Times

Iran warned Israel yesterday that it faces destruction if it attacks the Islamic republic, only hours after Tehran provocatively test-fired missiles capable of hitting targets across the Middle East. “If this [an Israeli attack] happens, which, of course, we do not foresee, its ultimate result would be to expedite the last breath of the Zionist regime,” Ahmad Vahidi, the Iranian Defence Minister, said on state television. His defiant comments came after Western leaders dismissed a second day of rocket launches by Iran, calling them a “reprehensible” distraction from critical talks this week that will determine whether Tehran is ready to negotiate over its nuclear programme, or face biting new sanctions. Robert Gibbs, President Obama’s White House spokesman, called the missile tests “provocative”. He added: “This is an important day and an important week for Iran.”

He demanded unfettered access to a new nuclear facility that Iran appeared to have concealed from international inspectors, but finally admitted to last week. “They can continue on the path they’ve been on . . . or make a decision to step away from a nuclear weapons programme, and enter into a meaningful relationship with the world, based on their own security but not based on nuclear weapons.” David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said the missile tests were an attempt to deflect growing pressure, after disclosure of the hidden plant on a heavily guarded military base outside Qom. “It mustn’t distract us from the big question of this week, which is how will Iran respond at the meeting with the international community on Thursday,” he told Sky News. “The test that counts this week is the test for Iran.” The missiles, the Shahab-3 and the more advanced Sejil-2, could reach almost any target in the Middle East, including Israel, Iraq and several American military bases in the region.

Tehran insisted that the exercises, which coincided with the Jewish festival of Yom Kippur, had been planned for a long time and were not a reaction to last week’s revelations. Israel, which has previously been impatient to launch military strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities, has expressed satisfaction with the hardening of international resolve against Iran, notably Russia’s new commitment to sanctions if Tehran fails to satisfy concerns about its programme. Russia joined the chorus of Western countries expressing misgivings about yesterday’s missile tests. Diplomats expect Iran to come to the table in Geneva on Thursday with an offer to allow UN inspectors into the Qom plant. But Western powers are demanding further scrutiny that Tehran may be less willing to permit, such as handing over the blueprints for the plant, and allowing access to the scientists involved in its design. (Read more...)