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INTERNATIONAL DESK Iran today test-fired a missile it claims is able to reach Israel, annoying Wahington in a tense period with the growing fears that the standoff over the contested Iranian nuclear drive could lead to war.
The AFP news agency has said that "the Shahab-3 was among a broadside of nine missiles fired off simultaneously at 8:00 am (0330 GMT) from an undisclosed location in the Iranian desert, state television showed."
The government controlled Arabic channel Al-Alam said the missiles test-fired by the elite Revolutionary Guards included a "Shahab-3 with a conventional warhead weighing one tonne and a 2,000-kilometre (1,240-mile) range."
"The aim of these war games is to show we are ready to defend the integrity of the Iranian nation," Al-Alam quoted Revolutionary Guards air force commander Hossein Salami as saying.
"Our missiles are ready for shooting at any place and any time, quickly and with accuracy. The enemy must not repeat its mistakes. The enemy targets are under surveillance," he added.
Washington issued an immediate condemnation via White House spokesperson Gordon Johndrow of the missile tests:
"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," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
"It's evidence that the missile threat is not an imaginary one," commented US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman said Israel is not seeking war.
"Israel seeks neither conflict nor hostilities with Iran, but no one in the international community should remain indifferent to Iran's nuclear programme and Iran's ballistic missile programme," Mark Regev said.
Also test-fired were the Zelzal, with a range of up to 400 kilometres (250 miles), and the Fateh with a range of around 170 kilometres (100 miles).
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