No big deal, I’m sure those ballistic missiles are for “peaceful” purposes. Oh and those “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” don’t mean a thing.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran test-fired a missile capable of striking Israel, U.S. Mideast bases and Europe on Wednesday—a show of strength touted by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as he battles for re-election next month against more moderate opponents.The U.S. responded by saying Iran must choose between destabilizing the Middle East or accepting the dialogue offered by President Barack Obama. The U.S. leader threatened earlier this week that Iran could face further international sanctions if it does not respond positively by year-end to U.S. attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear program.
Israel said the test appeared to be Iran’s response to a positive meeting on Monday between Obama and new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
U.S. officials confirmed the launch and Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said in Washington that Iran is at a crossroads and must choose its course.
“They can either continue on this path of continued destabilization in the region or they can decide that they want to pursue relationships with the counties in the region and the United States that are more normalized,” said Whitman. “Our concerns are obviously based on nuclear ambitions and the implications that long- and medium-range missiles have with respect to that,” he added.
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