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The Pentagon will simulate an Iranian missile attack in a missile defense test next month, news reports said a day after Iran test-fired a Saijjil-2 medium-range missile. The launch of the Sajjil-2, which has a 1,200-mile range and is capable of reaching Israel and parts of Europe, hardened the West's resolve for sanctions on Iran's nuclear program.
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Though the timing appears to be a coincidence, Time Magazine听reports that the Department of Defense 听to test the ability of American interceptors in January. Previous missile defense tests have used fake North Korean missiles to test American defenses.
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The ICBM has a longer range than the Sajjil-2, and is as of now only a hypothetical threat from Iran. Due to the more pressing threat of missiles such as the Sajjil-2, the US earlier this year halted a proposed land-based missile defense system that would have protected against ICBMs in favor of a ship-based system for defending against shorter- and medium-range missiles.
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The 海角大神 Science Monitor听reported Wednesday that Wednesday鈥檚 launch听was the 鈥渓atest twist in the strategic stand-off between Iran and the West, especially over its nuclear ambitions.鈥� Iran has defied UN Security Council demands that it freeze uranium enrichment and has failed to provide a clear answer to a UN-backed nuclear deal in which much of Iran鈥檚 low-enriched uranium would be removed from the country in exchange for fuel for a research reactor. Tuesday the US House of Representatives voted to give President Barack Obama power to levy sanctions on Iran.
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The missile launch also came amid new concern in the international community over 听for building a nuclear weapon, reports the Associated Press.
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Several U.S. officials familiar with the reportedly-secret Iranian technical document said that its authenticity has not been confirmed, but that it is part of a broader pattern of evidence suggesting Iran is laying groundwork to build a nuclear weapon. Iran has consistently insisted its nuclear program is for civilian purposes

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The Times of London听first reported Sunday on an 听that reportedly describes a plan for a device used to detonate a nuclear bomb. The Times of London reports that the failure to reach a nuclear deal with Iran has raised concern of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
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While the West may be doing all it can to curb Iran鈥檚 nuclear ambitions it is helping many countries in the Middle East to obtain civilian nuclear technology.

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Ehud Barak, the Israeli Defence Minister, said that failure to enforce Iranian compliance with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, could lead to a race for nuclear weapons. 鈥淭hink of Egypt or Turkey or Saudi Arabia,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey can hardly afford not being nuclear if Iran turns . . . nuclear.鈥� [鈥�]

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The international community is trying to balance legitimate energy needs with limiting access to rogue states such as Syria, whose suspected nuclear plant was bombed in 2007.

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See also

Could an Israeli air strike stop Iran's nuclear program?

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The Guardian

Official: Pakistan snubbing US help by refusing key visas

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