Press-TV did not report where they landed but stated that both the tests of the Shahab-3 and Sejil-2 missiles fired Monday were successful. An “optimized” Shahab-3 missile reportedly has a range between 800 to 1,250 miles. The Sejil-2 is a solid-fuel powered, two-stage missile with a range believed to be more than 1,200 miles. A solid-fuel rocket has a number of distinct advantages over a liquid-fueled one; most importantly, solid fuel decreases significantly the danger posed by transporting and hiding the missile, therefore the Sejil-2 is able to be much more mobile than its counterpart, and easier to hide for quick-firing.
Three short-range missiles of range 90-125 miles, including the Iranian-made Fateh-110 and Tondar-69, a short-range naval missile, were also test-fired Sunday. The tests are were reported by Press TV as stages of “a defense drill in a bid to bolster [Iran’s] defense capabilities.”
The tests conducted by the IRGC fall on the heels of last week’s reports of the newly-revealed Qom nuclear site and days before talks are set to begin with P-5+1 officials in Geneva.
On the U.S. side, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that “The reality is, there is no military option that does anything other than buy time” questioning the prospect of aggressive action by the U.S.
Gates has expressed support for diplomacy efforts and the potential use of harsher sanctions.
September 28, 2009