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Middle East News Update

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For

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July 9, 2008

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Defiant Iran Tests

New 1-Ton Payload

Shehab-3 Missile

 

One day after threatening to strike Tel Aviv and United States interests if attacked, Iran's Revolutionary Guards were reported on Wednesday to have test-fired nine missiles, including one which Tehran claims has the range to reach Israel.

State-run media, quoted by Western news agencies, said the missiles were long- and medium-range projectiles, among them a new version of the Shahab-3 which Tehran maintains can hit targets 1,250 miles away from its firing position.

The new Shehab-3 model reportedly has a 1 ton payload capacity, making it the equivalent of Israel's Jericho II missile, although the Jericho II has more than double the range. The new Shehab-3's payload of 1-ton would make the missile, nuclear capable of throwing a nuclear bomb with 6 times greater destructive power than that of the Hiroshima bomb dropped on Japan at the end of WW2.

The Iranians tested 9 missiles as part of a new "wargames exercise" called "Great Prophet 3. The war games were hastily called in a snap moment after word leaked of US Navy training exercises with Bahrain began over the past weekend. For more details on this story, LINK HERE.

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US Condemns Iran Missile Test

The White House denounced Iran's test-friring of the Shehab-3 ballistic missle which puts Israel at risk for a large-sized missile attack. The White House called on Iran to abandon its ballistic missile program, "immediately."

The White House response stated: "Iran’s development of ballistic missiles is a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and completely inconsistent with Iran’s obligations to the world. "The White House response went on to add, The Iranians should stop the development of ballistic missiles, which could be used as a delivery vehicle for a potential nuclear weapon, immediately."

The test wsa conducted as part of a new Iranian "wargames" exercise code-named "Great Prophet 3" which itself was in response to a US Naval exercise in the Persian Gulf, designed to train naval forces in protecting the region against an Iranian attack after the latest Iranian warnings that it would shut down the Strait of Hormuz should anyone attack Iran's nuclear facilities.  The missile test also came at the same time a senior aide to the Supreme Ayatollah warned that Iran would strike Tel Aviv first and US global interests including US naval ships in the Persian Gulf if anyone attacked Iran's nuclear facilities.

The missile test came after the G-8 Summit demanded Iran halt its uranium enrichment, and after the G-8 summit had ended. For more details on the US condemnation of the missile test, LINK HERE.

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US Navy Conducts Exercises

In Persian Gulf

The US Navy announced on Monday, July 7, that is was conducting a naval exercise in the Persian Gulf, shortly after Iran vowed to block the Strait of Hormuz and bottle up oil tanker traffice in the Gulf, should anyone attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

The Navy stated that the exercise code-named, "Exercise Stake Net" was designed to train personnel on the tactics and procedures of protecting martime infrastructure such as gas and oil installations from an Iranian attack.

Two U.S. vessels were taking part in the exercise alongside a British warship and one from Bahrain, a Gulf Arab ally which hosts the Fifth Fleet.

 The Iranians immediately countered with a snap wargame exercise, code-named "Great Prophet 3."  More details, LINK HERE.

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US Slaps New Sanctions On Iran

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Israel Successfully Tests

Anti-missile Defense Interceptor

 

Israel has completed a successful test of a new anti-missile defense system that is designed to intercept rockets and missiles from Lebanon or Gaza. More details, LINK HERE.

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UK Paper Says:

Iran Has Resumed A-bomb Project

Cites Western Intel Sources

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Iran Vows To Hit Tel Aviv

And

Burn Down US Vital Global Interests

A senior aide to Iran's Supreme Ayatollah warned Tuesday that if Iran is attacked, Tel Aviv, Israel will be the first target of Iranian revenge, followed by Iranian retaliation against every vital, American interest around the world, including US martime traffic and the US Navy.

Ali Shirazi, a close advisor to the Surpreme Ayatollah Khameini specified that US ships in the Persian Gulf would be among the very first counter-strike targets. Various Iranian leaders have previously vowed to close the Strait of Hormuz and halt all Persian Gulf oil tanker traffic. 40% of the world's oil supplies pass through that vital passageway.

Shirazi's warning came as the US Navy conducted a new round of naval war training exercises geared to protect the Hormuz passageway. For more details, .

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US Won't Allow Israel

To Attack Iran

A former Pentagon commander and ABC-TV News military consultant, Tony Cordesman told Israeli defense analysts in Israel that the United States did not give Israel the "green light" for an attack on Iran. Cordesman told Israeli officials that when the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen visited Israel 10 days ago, the Admiral told his Israeli counterpart that official US policy is that Israel is to NOT attempt a military strike against Iran without prior US approval. The admiral told General Gabi Ashkenazi that for now, the US policy is to let the diplomatic efforts run their full course.

General Ashkenazi will get that same message first hand from key US officials in a few weesk when he travels to Washington for further consultations. The official purpose of his visit remains classifed, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the primary topic of conversation will somehow involve Iran and its nuclear program. For more details, catch the Jerusalem Post's coverage, LINK HERE.

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Iranian Prez Says

No War With US/Israel

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reassured world leaders on Tuesday that there would be no war between Iran and Israel or the US. The fiery Iranian leader stated that he sees no possibility of a war between his nation and Israel or the US. He stated, "I assure you that there won't be any war in the future" during a news conference while attending a summit of developing Muslim nations being held in Kuala, Lumpur, Malaysia.  For more on the Iranian leader's comments, LINK HERE.

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Iraqi Gov't Wants

US Withdrawal Timetable

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Oil Drops $9 in 48 Hrs

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