TEHRAN, Iran — Iran tested its longest-range, solid-fuel missile yet Wednesday — a launch that displayed Tehran’s reach and burnished the president’s hard-line reputation ahead of next month’s election.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates confirmed the test, which was announced by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The launch raised concerns about the sophistication of Tehran’s missile program, and Pentagon officials cautioned that it leaves Iran at a crossroads.
"They can either continue on this path of continued destabilization in the region or they can decide that they want to pursue relationships with the countries in the region and the United States that are more normalized,” said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman.
Solid-propellant rockets are a concern because they can be fueled in advance and moved or hidden in silos, said a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss technical details of Iran’s missile program
Iran says its missile program is merely for defense, and its space program is for scientific and surveillance purposes. It maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian energy uses only.
Gates said the missile that was tested has a range roughly between 1,200 miles and 1,500 miles.
by the associated press
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates confirmed the test, which was announced by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The launch raised concerns about the sophistication of Tehran’s missile program, and Pentagon officials cautioned that it leaves Iran at a crossroads.
"They can either continue on this path of continued destabilization in the region or they can decide that they want to pursue relationships with the countries in the region and the United States that are more normalized,” said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman.
Solid-propellant rockets are a concern because they can be fueled in advance and moved or hidden in silos, said a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss technical details of Iran’s missile program
Iran says its missile program is merely for defense, and its space program is for scientific and surveillance purposes. It maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian energy uses only.
Gates said the missile that was tested has a range roughly between 1,200 miles and 1,500 miles.
by the associated press
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