Charlotte Observer Logo

Iran reports 2nd day of launches | Charlotte Observer

×
  • E-edition
  • Customer Service
  • Advertise
  • Newsletters

    • News
    • Local
    • Crime
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Election
    • Politics
    • Nation/World
    • Special Reports
    • North Carolina
    • South Carolina
    • Corrections
    • Columnists
    • Retro Charlotte
    • Your Schools
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Sports
    • Carolina Panthers
    • Charlotte Hornets
    • That's Racin'
    • High Schools
    • College Sports
    • Charlotte Knights/MLB
    • Other Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Inside the Panthers
    • Inside the NBA
    • Prep Insiders
    • Scott Fowler
    • Tom Sorensen
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The North Carolina Influencer Series
    • RNC 2020
    • Business
    • Banking
    • Stocks Center
    • Top Workplaces
    • National Business
    • What's in Store
    • Development
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Living
    • Religion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Family
    • Home & Garden
    • CLT Style
    • Travel
    • Living Here Guide
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • I'll Bite
    • Kathleen Purvis
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Arts/Culture
    • Events
    • Movie News & Reviews
    • Restaurants
    • Music/Nightlife
    • Television
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Rewards
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Kevin Siers
    • Letters
    • Submit an Op-ed
    • Submit a Letter
    • Viewpoint
    • All Blogs & Columns
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • O-Pinion
    • You Write The Caption
    • Taylor Batten
    • Peter St. Onge
  • Celebrations
  • Obituaries
  • TV Listings

  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Virtual Career Fair
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Place an ad
  • Mobile & Apps

  • MomsCharlotte
  • Carolina Bride Magazine
  • South Park Magazine

News

Iran reports 2nd day of launches

By Anne Gearan - Associated Press

    ORDER REPRINT →

July 11, 2008 12:00 AM

The confrontation between Tehran and Washington seemed to sharpen Thursday as Iran said it tested missiles for a second day and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the U.S. would defend its allies and protect its interests against an attack.

The test prompted a show of force from Israel as well.

Rice said Iran's leaders should understand that the U.S. won't dismiss provocations from Tehran and has the ability to counter them. “I don't think the Iranians are too confused, either, about the capability and the power of the United States to do exactly that,” she said.

Though the White House has repeatedly asserted it prefers diplomacy to war, Rice used some of the administration's most direct language yet to make clear the U.S. is strengthening its military presence to counter Iran in the strategic Persian Gulf region and is prepared to use force. She also referred to U.S. arms sales to Gulf allies and military aid to Israel as protections against any threat from Iran.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

“We take very, very strongly our obligation to help our allies defend themselves, and no one should be confused about that,” Rice said in Tbilisi, Georgia, before returning to Washington from a trip to Eastern Europe.

Her remarks were part of a rising rhetorical and strategic face-off between Iran on one side and the U.S. and Israel on the other. The posturing has raised concerns worldwide about a possible shooting war.

The most likely scenario for that would be an Israeli strike to reduce or eliminate the threat that Iran could soon field a nuclear weapon. Israel could theoretically launch an airstrike against one or more of Iran's known nuclear sites and at least set back the timetable for a bomb.

Israel has announced no such intention, although neither it nor its U.S. protector will rule out the possibility and Israel has sent multiple signals that it is ready to defend itself.

On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said his country “proved in the past that it won't hesitate to act when its vital security interests are at stake.”

Also Thursday, Israel displayed its latest spy plane in what defense officials said was a show of strength in response to Iranian war games and missile tests. Last month, Israel's military sent warplanes over the eastern Mediterranean for a large military exercise that U.S. officials described as a possible rehearsal for a strike on Iran's atomic project.

Iran's latest testing was announced hours after Rice spoke Thursday. Wednesday's tests were conducted at the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which up to 40 percent of the world's oil passes. Oil prices rose Thursday after the new announcement.

A U.S. official said analysts had determined Tehran launched seven ballistic missiles and two rockets on the first night. But it appeared that only one weapon — an anti-ship missile — was launched on the second night, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The New York Times contributed.

  Comments  

Videos

Take a walk around the security perimeter of the Spectrum Center for the All-Star game

A traditional Native American flute performance.

View More Video

Trending Stories

DNA testing needed to identify mystery animal that attacked and killed NC teacher

February 18, 2019 07:37 AM

‘The whole community is terrified’: Hundreds rally against increased ICE presence in NC

February 18, 2019 07:12 PM

Six Charlotte men arrested on drug charges are linked to Mexican cartel, feds say

February 18, 2019 05:49 PM

Bladen County operative ‘told us what we were to say’ at hearing, worker testifies

February 18, 2019 06:00 AM

It’s time to get tougher on anti-vaxxers

February 18, 2019 12:00 PM

things to do

Read Next

See how Gov. McMaster and lawmakers plan to elevate veterans issues in South Carolina

South Carolina

See how Gov. McMaster and lawmakers plan to elevate veterans issues in South Carolina

By Tom Barton

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 19, 2019 01:50 PM

SC Gov. Henry McMaster, joined by veterans and lawmakers, announced support for legislation establishing the Division of Veteran Affairs as a cabinet-level agency to elevate veterans‘ issues in the state.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE NEWS

‘United Pot Smokers’ weed delivery service sued over ‘confusingly similar’ branding

National

‘United Pot Smokers’ weed delivery service sued over ‘confusingly similar’ branding

February 19, 2019 04:28 PM
Student caught with a gun at CMS school, despite district’s random searches

Education

Student caught with a gun at CMS school, despite district’s random searches

February 19, 2019 04:14 PM
Online petition seeks to sell Montana to Canada. ‘Just tell them it has beavers.’

World

Online petition seeks to sell Montana to Canada. ‘Just tell them it has beavers.’

February 19, 2019 02:52 PM
‘In God We Trust’ decals will be put on NC county’s cars. Donors could pay for them

North Carolina

‘In God We Trust’ decals will be put on NC county’s cars. Donors could pay for them

February 19, 2019 04:16 PM
Hootie & the Blowfish’s Darius Rucker to receive another award — this one for good deeds

Latest News

Hootie & the Blowfish’s Darius Rucker to receive another award — this one for good deeds

February 19, 2019 04:14 PM
Harris campaign head vehemently denies knowing about possible wrongdoing

Politics & Government

Harris campaign head vehemently denies knowing about possible wrongdoing

February 19, 2019 02:24 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Charlotte Observer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story