Iran Monday tested missiles near the Strait of Hormuz, underlining its threats to close the vital oil-transit waterway as the West prepares to impose more economic sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear drive. The launch of two missiles took place on the final day of war games in waters east of the strait at the entrance to the Gulf, a navy spokesman, Commodore Mahmoud Mousavi, was quoted as saying by official media. Another missile was also to be tested Monday, he said. France said the tests were regrettable and stressed to Tehran the Strait of Hormuz must remain open. “We regret the very bad signal sent to the international community by the latest missile tests announced by Iran,” foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said in Paris, reminding Tehran of the “freedom of navigation in straits and the need to maintain a favourable climate in respect to this freedom.” The United States, which keeps its Fifth Fleet based in the Gulf, has warned it will not tolerate a closure of the strategic channel. The longest range of the missiles tested Monday was some 200 kilometres (120 miles). On Sunday, a medium-range surface-to-air missile was also test-fired during the exercises, according to Mousavi. The show of military muscle was designed to show Iran’s ability to close the Strait of Hormuz — through which 20 percent of the world’s oil flows — if it chooses. Iranian political and military officials insist they could take that drastic step if the West imposes more sanctions, on top of others that have already taken their toll on Iran’s oil-dependent economy.
