Iran sends message to Israel – on a missile

TEHRAN (Christian Examiner) – Iran has conducted a test launch of a missile with a special message for Israel, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) has reported.

Emblazoned on the side of the gold missile was a slogan written in Farsi but also in Hebrew: "Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth."

According to MEMRI, which monitors extremist media in the region, Iran conducted the tests as part of its annual missile drill March 8-9. The missiles, the Qadr-F and Qadr-H, have ranges of about 1,300 and 900 miles, respectively. Both missiles are capable of reaching Tel Aviv if fired from the western most region of Iran.

Iranian Revolution Guard Corps commander Ali Jafari and the head of the IRGC aerospace and missile division, Amir Ali Hajizadeh both attended the missile tests as IRGC leaders said the missiles would be used to "destroy the Zionist enemy."

The main threat against Iran comes from the Zionists. Those most hostile towards Iran should naturally fear this readiness and these capabilities the most. Our missiles cover the [entire territory of the] occupying Zionist regime, therefore they fear [us] the most.

On March 16, after reports of the missile tests began circulating widely in Israel and other parts of the Middle East, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani claimed again that the country's missile program is only meant to be "defensive" and he advised "foreign powers to adopt the policy of peace and friendship instead of enmity and distrust."

"Our people dislike tensions. Countries which have maintained the path of tension are advised to return to the path of peace and friendship. Those who unfairly took our missile test case to the UN Security Council came back disappointed," Rouhani told reporters in Tehran on Wednesday. "We have no intention to invade our neighbors. Our missile program is completely for defense purposes."

Much of the propaganda coming out of Iran is bluster.

For instance, Iran claimed it had 1 million missiles ready for its defense (a number not even the United States or the Soviet Union could claim). It nonetheless reveals Iran's stated desire to destroy Israel – it claims in a "defensive war."

Ali Jafari, commander of the Revolutionary Guards, said March 8 that the missile tests displays only a portion of the country's capabilities.

But just what capabilities the country can boast remains a mystery. Iran has conducted similar tests in the past and when photos of the tests were released, they were found to be edited to show more missiles being fired than were actually fired.

Jafari claimed Iran has the right to develop the missiles "in the face of hostility" and any request to remove them is a "red line."

"Iran's officials consider the IRGC's missile capabilities to be a red line and are of one mind on this issue. Our enemies, too, have understood that increasing the sanctions and the security pressure has no impact on the growth of our capabilities," Jafari said.

"While confronting the enemies, the IRGC's finger is always on the trigger. The enemies of the Islamic Revolution should fear the roar of the IRGC's missiles," he added.

"The main threat against Iran comes from the Zionists. Those most hostile towards Iran should naturally fear this readiness and these capabilities the most. Our missiles cover the [entire territory of the] occupying Zionist regime, therefore they fear [us] the most."

A video of the missile tests revealed some of Iran's hardened underground facilities. An Israeli flag was painted on the floor at the entrance of the facility for those who enter to walk over.