Refuses To Give Up Nuclear Research

Does this sound familiar? A government considered a renegade among nations test fires several missiles... then says it won't stop research that could one day see those missiles equipped with nuclear warheads. No, we're not talking about North Korea... but its fellow "Axis of Evil" member, Iran.

That country faces an August 31st deadline for suspending its nuclear research... or the UN Security Council has promised to enact a number of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Speaking at a news conference after Iran test-fired ten short-range missiles over the weekend, a spokesman for the country's foreign ministry says suspension of its nuclear research programs is simply not an option.

"Everything has to come out of negotiations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said. "Suspension is not on our agenda."

The statements came a day after Iran test-fired ten Saegheh surface-to-surface missiles at the start of a major nationwide military exercise.

"We have to be prepared against any threat and we should be a role model for other countries," local media sources quoted Iranian army spokesman Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, according to the Associated Press.

Not surprisingly, the White House condemned the weekend missile tests -- saying Iran continues to develop missiles that could eventually carry nuclear payloads to targets in friendly nations, and eventually the US itself.

FMI: www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/index.html