Iran tests missile that could hit US bases, Israel

Updated at 6:25 a.m. ET: Iran test fired its second long-range missile during a naval exercise in the Gulf, state TV's website quoted a senior navy commander saying Monday.

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"Today our Nour (Light) surface-to-surface long range missile was also successfully launched," said deputy navy Commander Mahmoud Mousavi.

Published at 4 a.m. ET: Iran said Monday it had successfully test fired a long-range missile during its naval exercise in the Gulf, flexing its military muscle to show it could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the region if attacked.

The announcement came amid rising tension over Iran's disputed nuclear program which Western powers believe is working on developing atomic bombs.

Tehran denies the accusation and last week said it would stop the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz if the West carried out threats to impose sanctions on its oil exports.

"We have test fired a long-range shore-to-sea missile called Qader (capable), which managed to successfully destroy predetermined targets in the Gulf," deputy Navy Commander Mahmoud Mousavi told the official news agency IRNA.

Syrian allies
Iran earlier said it would test fire two long-range missiles on Monday ? Qader and another system called Nour (light) ? to display its resolve to counter any attack by enemies such as Israel or the United States.

Mousavi said observers from the country's closest Arab ally, Syria, would attend the last day of its 10-day naval exercise.

Video: US won?t tolerate Iran disruption (on this page)

The European Union is considering a ban ? already in place by the United States ? on imports of Iranian crude.

The U.S. Fifth Fleet reacted to Iran's threat to stop oil flows, saying it will not allow any disruption of traffic in the Gulf.

Video: Iran makes big claims (on this page)

The United States and Israel have not ruled out military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to resolve the Islamic state's nuclear row with the West.

Iran said it had no intention to close the Strait of Hormuz.

"No order has been given for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But we are prepared for various scenarios," state television quoted navy chief Habibollah Sayyari as saying.

Iran border guards held
Meanwhile, a Pakistani government official said authorities had yet to decide what to do with three Iranian border guards detained for allegedly crossing into Pakistan and killing a man.

Aalam Faraz said Monday the Iranians admitted to inadvertently crossing into Baluchistan province while chasing a vehicle. They allegedly shot and killed one man and wounded another Sunday.

Faraz said the Iranians claimed they accidentally shot the men when they fired on the vehicle they were chasing.

Pakistani border guards chased the Iranians back across the border, seized the two men who were shot and detained three Iranian border guards.

Faraz was waiting to hear from provincial authorities about what to do with the Iranians. He is a senior official in Washuk district, where the incident occurred.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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