Iran test-fires missiles amid nuclear tension

Iran test-fired missiles on Sunday to show it was prepared to head off any military threat.

Iran test-fired missiles on Sunday to show it was prepared to head off any military threat,four days before the Islamic Republic is due to hold rare talks with world powers worried about its nuclear ambitions.

The missile manoeuvres coincide with escalating tension in Iran’s nuclear row with the West,after last week’s disclosure by Tehran that it is building a second uranium enrichment plant.

News of the nuclear facility south of Iran added a sense of urgency to a crucial meeting in Geneva on Thursday between Iranian officials and representatives of six major powers,including the United States.

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An Iranian official warned “fabricated Western clamour” over the new plant would negatively affect the talks at which the six powers want Iran to agree to open its facilities to inspection to prove its programme is for power and not nuclear weapons.

Ali Asghar Soltanieh,Iran’s IAEA envoy,said,referring to the six powers’ concern over the new plant: “This Western approach will have a negative impact on Iran’s negotiations with the 5+1 countries.”

US President Barack Obama said on Saturday the discovery of the secret nuclear plant in Iran showed a “disturbing pattern” of evasion by Tehran that added urgency to its talks on Thursday with world powers.

Obama warned Iran on Friday it would face “sanctions that bite” if it did not come clean.

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Earlier this month,Obama dropped a Bush-era plan to deploy missiles in Poland that had been proposed as a shield amid concerns Iran was trying to develop nuclear warheads it could mount on long-range missiles.

outside the RJD party office in Patna on Friday. Partners of the alliance filed nomination papers for all 121 seats going to polls in the first phase – the total strength of the Bihar House is 243 – while talks continued to end the deadlock over seats.

Mahagathbandhan parties fail to seal Bihar pact, field own candidates for Phase 1

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Opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar failed to announce a seat-sharing pact as nominations closed for the first phase of Assembly elections. Talks are ongoing to end the deadlock over seats, with over a dozen constituencies still in dispute. The alliance has released lists of candidates, with RJD reportedly contesting 130-135 seats and Congress around 60.

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