Defiant Iran fires long-range missile

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http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...4570&printer=1

Defiant Iran fires long-range missile

Monday August 28th 2006


IRAN showed its defiance of Western attempts to curb its nuclear ambitions by test firing a long-range missile yesterday - a day after inaugurating a new stage of its nuclear programme.

The test, only days before the UN deadline to halt uranium enrichment expires on Thursday, came as international consensus on how to deal with Iran began to crumble in a dispute over whether to impose tough economic sanctions.

America is preparing to head its own coalition with allies in Europe and Japan to punish Iran if China and Russia block the Security Council vote on threatened penalties for Iran. The split seems to have emboldened the Iranian regime and all eyes are now on Tehran for further surprises leading up to the deadline.

President Ahmadinejad inaugurated a new heavy-water reactor plant at Arak on Saturday, days after Iran pledged that it would announce the "nuclear birth" of the nation. Heavy water can be used to create a plutonium byproduct for use in atomic warheads.

The Thaqeb, or Saturn missile, which was test-fired yesterday, is the first sub-to-surface missile in the Iranian arsenal but is not capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.