Photo tour with RIA Novosti. Iran
TEHRAN, July 9 (RIA Novosti) - Iran's armed forces are ready to respond to any threats, an Air Force commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said Wednesday after a long-range missile test.
Iran successfully launched earlier Wednesday an upgraded Shahab-3 ballistic missile as part of a navy exercise, dubbed Great Prophet 3, in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
"Our missile capability is only a minor part of our deterrence capacity," said Brigadier General Hossein Salami, adding that Iran's response to any threat would be severe.
"The enemy's targets are under surveillance, while our missiles are ready for firing at any time," the commander said.
With a reported range of 2,000 kilometers and armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead, the Shahab-3 puts Israel, Turkey, the Arabian peninsula, Afghanistan and Pakistan within striking distance.
A White House spokesman said the tests were "completely inconsistent with Iran's obligations to the world."
"The Iranian regime only furthers the isolation of the Iranian people from the international community when it engages in this sort of activity," National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
"They should also refrain from further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the world," he said.
An Israeli government spokesman said Israel does not desire hostility and conflict with Iran.
"But it is clear that the Iranian nuclear program and the Iranian ballistic missile program is a matter of grave concern," Mark Regev said.
