Tehran turns up the pressure with more missile tests
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Iran successfully test-fired what it described as two long-range missiles yesterday, flexing its military muscle in the face of mounting Western pressure over its nuclear programme.
The announcement came at the climax of 10 days of naval exercises in the Gulf, during which Tehran warned that it could shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for world oil supplies, if sanctions were imposed on its crude exports.
The military activity, including the disclosure of a medium-range missile test on Sunday, follows the US President Barack Obama's approval on Saturday of tougher sanctions to penalise Iran for its nuclear research programme. The weekend also saw the announcement of the country's success in producing its first nuclear fuel rod, a technological feat that few thought Iran was capable of.
Analysts say Tehran's increasingly strident rhetoric is aimed at sending a message to the West that it should think twice about the economic cost of putting further pressure on the country.
The US and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to resolve the Islamic state's nuclear row with the West. However, Moshe Ya'alon, Israel's minister of strategic affairs, played down the military impact of Iran's announcement yesterday, saying Tehran's forces were no match for the West's.
Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments