A semi-official Iranian news agency (Fars) quoted the deputy for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Mojtaba Zolnoor) as saying Iran's missiles could hit and destroy targets throughout the region. He spoke on the same day Iran dismissed speculation it risks being attacked over its disputed nuclear program. Iranian state media (IRNA) quoted Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as saying Israel and the United States do not have the capability to enter what he called "another crisis." A Iranian spokesman (Gholam Hossein Elham) said any aggression against Iran would be, in his words, madness and stupidity. Iranian missile tests in the last week have heightened concerns about Iran's nuclear activities The European Union expressed concern about the tests and urged Tehran to reach a negotiated solution on its nuclear program. The EU said the missile tests only compound the worries of the international community. Iran says its top nuclear negotiator (Saeed Jalili) is to meet with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana July 19th to discuss a package of incentives Solana presented last month to persuade Tehran to stop its nuclear activities. The United States says the incentives offer Iran a chance to begin nuclear negotiations without initially suspending its uranium enrichment program. Iran has offered a more general counter-proposal on ways to solve the world's problems, including the nuclear standoff. The U.S. and its Western allies allege Iran is trying to make nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the charge. |
