Tehran Confirms Missile Test Success

Iran confirmed that it successfully tested a medium-range missile, a weapon capable of reaching Israel, any part of Iraq and thousands of U.S. troops stationed in Saudi Arabia. State television quoted Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani as saying that the missile with a range of 800 miles was tested Wednesday by Iranian experts “without any foreign support.” U.S. intelligence agencies have identified the missile as a Shehab 3 and said its launch and path were tracked early Wednesday. Iran’s successful test contradicted estimates by the U.S. intelligence community in 1997 that Iran would need up to 10 years to develop a medium-range missile.