September 29, 2009

West slams "provocative" Iran tests before talks

Iran test fires long-range missiles on second day of war games
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TEHRAN: Western powers on Monday called Iran's latest missile test firings "provocative" as the White House urged Tehran to agree to immediate, unfettered access to its newly disclosed nuclear fuel plant at this week's talks with world powers.
The statements came after Iran test-fired two different long-range missiles on its second day of war games.
The first test-firing involved the Shahab-3, which Iran says could hit arch-foe Israel and U.S. military bases in the region. It was shown in footage broadcast by state-owned Press TV channel being launched in desert terrain.
The second missile was Iran's two-stage long-range Sejil. It was the first such firing during military maneuvers by the Revolutionary Guards, according to Fars news agency.
The state TV reported earlier that Tehran has test-fired medium-range missiles, a day after the Revolutionary Guards launched short-range missiles as part of several days of war games.
Iran conducts war games or tests weapons to show its resolve to counter any attack by Israel or the United States.
Western countries suspect Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, which Tehran denies. Iran and world powers meet in Geneva on Thursday to discuss Tehran's disputed atomic program.
The five U.N. Security Council permanent members -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France -- plus Germany are due to take part in the talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili on Oct. 1.
West angered
The U.S. joined France and other Western powers in criticism of Iran's latest missile tests as Russia appealed for the world not to "succumb to emotions."
"Obviously these were pre-planned military exercises," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters when asked about the missile tests.
"I would lump any of these into the provocative nature in which Iran has operated on the world stage for a number of years."
"They can agree to immediate unfettered access (of the nuclear fuel facility)," Gibbs said when asked what Washington wants from the much-anticipated talks.
"That would be the least that they could do."
Meanwhile the French foreign ministry said: "We call on Iran to choose the path of cooperation rather than confrontation, by immediately ceasing these deeply destabilizing activities."
"These tests are a provocation, especially since we have made repeated offers of dialogue," foreign ministry spokeswoman Christine Fages told journalists.
Paris said the tests would heighten concern after it was revealed last week that Iran was building a second uranium enrichment plant.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called the tests "reprehensible" but said they should not distract attention from the talks.
"It is obviously reprehensible as such but it mustn't distract us from the big question of this week, which is how will Iran respond at the meeting with the international community on Thursday?" he told Sky News television.
Germany said the tests were "troubling" ahead of the talks.
"Tehran is testing missiles despite the fact that it wants to talk about regional peace and stability. Ahead of the upcoming talks, this is not a signal that will build trust," foreign ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner said.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the chief Western nuclear negotiator, expressed concern and said Tehran had produced "a new context" for the talks, although he said the time was not right to discuss further sanctions.
Russia, which has long resisted U.S.-led moves to tighten the screws on Tehran through international sanctions, said the world should not "succumb to emotions" in dealing with the Islamic republic.
"Now is not the time to succumb to emotions, it is necessary to calm down and above all to start up an effective negotiation process," a foreign ministry source was quoted as saying by Interfax.

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