Great Prophet III

Great Prophet III (Payambar-e Azam 3)cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/10/content_8519810.htm|title=Defense minister: Iran's missile capacity only for defensive purposes|publisher=Xinhua|first=Mu|last=Xuequan|language=English|date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-09] was an Iranian missile test and war games exercise, conducted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards. [cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/09/content_8517337.htm|title=Iran test fires new long- and mid-range missiles|publisher=Xinhua|first=Bi|last=Mingxin|language=English|date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-09] It began in the early morningcite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7496765.stm|title=Iran sends missile test warning|publisher=BBC News|language=English|date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-09] of 9 July 2008, whencite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/09/mideast/iran.php|publisher=International Herald Tribune|title=Iran reportedly test-fires 9 missiles|last=Cowell|first=Alan|language=English|date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-09] Iran claimed nine missiles were simultaneously test-fired, including a long-range Shahab-3. Further tests, which one report claimed included another Shahab-3 launch, [cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92399124|title=Iran Tests More Missiles; U.S. Issues Warning|publisher=NPR|language=English|date=2008-07-10|accessdate=2008-07-10] were conducted on 10 July. [cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hgZ55IhebcnRDnAzMeZxnlJLiieg|title=Iran fires more missiles in war games|publisher=AFP|language=English|date=2008-07-10|accessdate=2008-07-10] The exercise was reported to be a response to Israeli and American military exercises which the Iranian government believed to be related to a proposed attack on facilities related to Iran's nuclear programmes.cite web|url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011549739|title=Iran's Long-Range Missile Test Seen As Response to U.S. Threats|publisher=AHN|first=Komfie|last=Manalo|language=English|date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-09]

The commander of the Iran's Revolutionary Guards' air force, Hoseyn Salami, said that the test proved that "our missiles are ready for shooting at any place and any time, quickly and with accuracy", however the Iranian minister for Defence insisted that the missiles are "only intended for those who dare attack Iran". After the test, prices of oil and gold, already at or near all time highs, increased around the world.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7498214.stm|title=Iran missile test 'provocative'|publisher=BBC News|language=English|date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-09] [cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/gold-prices-end-higher-after/story.aspx?guid={1A52E515-09DF-47F1-A995-54D0098588F5}|title=Gold prices end higher after Iran test fires missile|first=Joyce|last=Koh|publisher=MarketWatch|language=English|date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-09] Others suggest the tests were seen as a response to oil prices dropping $10 during the early part of the week, and may have been done as an attempt to manipulate oil prices to continue to rise. Fact|date=August 2008 Oil hit a new record over $147 on Friday, July 11, 2008, continuing a weekly string of records Fact|date=July 2008.

Disputes

Photograph

Several sources have alleged that one of the photos of the actual launch was doctored by the "Sepah News" website, which is affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. However, the photo was originally published by "Agence France-Presse's" news wire attributing it to 'Sepah News", and was later determined to be digitally altered. The altered photo showed a fourth missile being launched that was digitally cloned over the top of a failed missile. Michele McNally of "The New York Times" said the alterations were done "rather sloppily in some places" and James Brown, a journalism professor from Indiana University, described the alterations as "amateurish". "Agence France-Presse" issued a correction to its wire release on July 10 warning that the photo was "apparently digitally altered." [cite web|publisher=USA Today|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-07-10-photo_N.htm|title=News agency says missile-test photo digitally changed|first=Andrea|last=Stone|date=2008-07-10|accessdate=2008-07-12|language=English] cite news|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/|title=In an Iranian image, a Missile Too Many|last=Nizza|first=Mike|coauthors=Patrick Witty|date=2008-07-11|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-07-11]

Types of missile

On 12 July 2008, "The New York Times" claimed that numerous deceptions in the weapon test had occurred including doctored photos and videos that showed multiple different angles of the same launches to make the launches appear more numerous. Experts that analysed the Shahab-3 launch alleged that the shorter ranged Shahab-3A was used instead of the Shahab-3B as claimed by the Iranians. [cite web|publisher=New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/12/world/middleeast/12iran.html|title=Experts Point to Deceptions in Iran’s Military Display|date=2008-07-12|accessdate=2008-07-12|language=English] The Associated Press also claimed that no new capabilities had been demonstrated and that the Shahab-3 tested was not different in size from those tested in 1998. US officials also claimed that the video released looked "remarkably similar to previous tests." [cite web|publisher=Associated Press|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ik14cCceJS05D5D5LtCvk7HqoY3QD91S0T3O0|title=Official: Iran missile tests used 'old equipment'|first=Pamela|last=Hess|date=2008-07-12|accessdate=2008-07-12]

The "Chicago Tribune" reported that Charles Vick, an analyst with GlobalSecurity.org, has claimed that the second Shahab-3 fired was actually a short range Scud-C missile. He also claimed the tests as, "basically a demonstration of all the weapon systems they bought from Russia, China or North Korea over the last decade." [Chicago Tribune. [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-iran-missiles_11jul11,0,7581893.story More Iran rockets draw sharp warnings] . July 11, 2008.]

International reaction

*CHN - A spokesman for China's foreign ministry expressed "concern about these developments", and a "hope that measures taken by all sides will be to the benefit of regional peace and stability". [cite web|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2008/July/theworld_July574.xml&section=theworld|title=China says concerned about Iran tensions|publisher=Khaleej Times|language=English|date=2008-07-10]
*FRA - A spokesman for the French foreign ministry stated that "these missile tests can only reinforce the concerns of the international community at a time when Iran is separately developing a nuclear programme".cite web|url=http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=080709195338.24fzx0e7.php|title=US leads outcry over Iran missile test|publisher=IC Publications|language=English|date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-09]
*GER - A spokesman for the German government described the tests as "a bad-will gesture", and "regrettable".
*ISR - A spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister stated that "Israel has no desire for conflict or hostilities with Iran, but the Iranian nuclear programme and the Iranian ballistic missile programme must be of grave concern to the entire international community". Israel's housing minister stated in parliament that "Israel should prepare itself to do what is needed to do"."
*JPN - The Japanese Cabinet Secretary called for "self-restraint on this kind of action, which only puts regional peace and stability at a disadvantage". He also referred to the G8 summit which was being held in Japan at the time, asking "what kind of international sense they have in launching purposely on the last day of the summit". [cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=126&art_id=nw20080710091756805C766601|title=Missile-test: Japan calls for self-restraint|publisher=IOL|language=English|date=2008-07-10|accessdate=2008-07-10]
*RUS - Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Kisliak called for diplomatic talks to be held in light of the tests, saying that "the signal that we have received in essence is that Iran is ready for negotiations".
*UK - The British government stated that the test was "unwelcome", and that it "underlines the need for Iran to comply with its international obligations on the nuclear issue".wikinewshas|related news
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*USA - White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe stated that "The Iranian regime only furthers the isolation of the Iranian people from the international community when it engages in this sort of activity", and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice claimed that the test showed "evidence that the missile threat is not an imaginary one". [cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-fg-iran10-2008jul10,0,857680.story|title=Iran stages Persian Gulf missile tests amid warnings to its 'enemies'|publisher=Los Angeles Times|first=Jeffrey|last=Fleishman|language=English|date=2008-07-09|accessdate=2008-07-09] She also stated that it justified American plans to install missile defence systems in Eastern Europe, as did Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Democratic candidate Barack Obama described the Iranian missile programme as a "great threat".

References