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Iran Claims to Launch Long-Range Missile

Ahmadinejad reports new test of arms that could reach Israel

By the Associated Press

Posted May 20, 2009 6:43 AM CDT

(AP) – Iran test-fired a new advanced missile today with a range of about 1,200 miles, far enough to strike Israel and southeastern Europe, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims. The reported launch comes two days after Barack Obama said he would seek deeper international sanctions against Iran if it shunned US attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear program, reports the AP. "It landed precisely on the target," said the Iranian president.

Ahmadinejad is running for re-election in next month's vote and has been criticized for antagonizing the US and mismanaging the country's faltering economy. Today's reported launch was of a solid-fuel surface-to-surface missile, which Iran said it had successfully tested late last year. Most Western analysts believe Iran does not yet have the technology to produce nuclear weapons, including warheads for long-range missiles.

A missile prior to test firing by Iranian armed forces is seen in an undisclosed location.
A missile prior to test firing by Iranian armed forces is seen in an undisclosed location.   (AP Photo/Fars News Agency, Vahid Reza Alaei)
Iran has successfully test-fired a new long-range missile that could reach Israel or southern Europe, it was reported.
Iran has successfully test-fired a new long-range missile that could reach Israel or southern Europe, it was reported.   (AP Photo/Fars News Agency, Vahid Reza Alaei)
A missile seen in front of a poster of the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A missile seen in front of a poster of the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.   (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian)
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran at a press conference. Behind him is a picture of the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran at a press conference. Behind him is a picture of the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,   (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Robert_Dada
May 20, 2009 5:59 AM CDT
Israel is not all that much better.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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