Iran Test-Fires Missile

January 02, 2012

An Iranian naval commander says Iran has successfully test-fired two 200-kilometer-range missiles during naval exercises near the Strait of Hormuz.

The French Foreign Ministry responded by saying the latest tests were a "very bad signal" sent to the international community by Iran.

Iranian state media quoted a deputy naval commander, Mahmud Musavi, as saying a Qader shore-to-sea missile and a Nasr surface-to-surface missile were launched in the tests.

Another shorter-range missile was expected to be launched later on January 2, the last day of the 10-day war games.

The tests came after navy officials said on January 1 that Iran had test-fired an advanced medium-range, ground-to-air missile in the area.

Iranian officials have previously threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf shipping lane through which more than one-third of the world's tanker oil passes, if Western nations impose sanctions on Iran.

The French Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bernard Valero, reminded Tehran on January 2 of the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iran_missile_tests/24439736.html

Copyright (c) 2012. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.