Iran condemns McCain for cigarette joke

The tests drew immediate criticism from US officials. In Eastern Europe, when the launches occurred, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the missile tests underscored the need for a US defensive missile system in the region.

But an independent national security blog, armscontrolwonk.com analysed on Thursday video footage of the launch posted by the Iranian government. It determined the missiles were identical to a version of the Shahab missile first demonstrated in Iran in 1998 that has a known range of 1,200 km.

In a posting called “Same old Boring Shahab 3,” it compared the diameter of the missile to its length and found it to be identical to the 1998 version.

Unless the Iranians have built a larger missile with the same length to width ratio, dramatically improved the thrust of the rocket or decreased its internal structural mass, the missile could not achieve the range Iran claimed it did. Otherwise, it is the same knockoff of North Korea’s Nodong-1, the blog determined.

Iran falsely claimed in February that it launched a two-stage missile that later analysis determined to be a one-stage Shahab missile, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Washington arms control advocacy think tank.

“Iran frequently exaggerates the capability of its missiles, and it appears it is continuing that tradition with this week’s tests,” said David Wright, co-director of the Union’s Global Security Program.

The US official who spoke about the tests said they involved eight or nine missiles, most fired on Wednesday and one more early on Thursday, several hours later. It was a mix of missiles ranging from medium-range to close-range battlefield rockets. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss preliminary analysis, said the models had not yet been decisively determined by US intelligence.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the test is being taken seriously and was an attempt to destabilize the region. “We don’t believe this exercise to have been an illusion,” he said on Friday. Still, he added, “They were not testing new technologies or capabilities, but rather firing off old equipment in an attempt to intimidate their neighbors and escalate tension in the region. That is not the way to win the trust and confidence of the international community.”