The World from Berlin 'Iran Is Playing with Fire'

With international pressure mounting against Iran to end its nuclear ambitions, the country has begun ominously rattling its sabers in the Persian Gulf. German commentators on Monday urge caution on both sides.
Tensions between Iran and the West escalated again on Monday as Tehran announced it had test-fired two long-range missiles in international waters near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"We have successfully test-fired long-range shore-to-sea and surface-to-surface missiles, called Qader (capable) and Nour (Light) today," Deputy navy Commander Mahmoud Mousavi told state television.

Amid ongoing international criticism of Iran's nuclear program, the missile launches were Tehran's latest show of force in military exercises started in response to the pressure. Monday's maneuvers came after the country announced the launch of a medium range missile the day before.

The so-called war games could bring Iranian ships near US naval forces operating in the Persian Gulf. Both the US and Israel have not ruled out a military response in the conflict over Iran's nuclear ambitions, and US forces based in Bahrain have said they will not allow a closure of the important Strait of Hormuz -- through which 40 percent of the world's crude oil is transported.

Iranian officials have made conflicting statements about possibly blocking the passage if sanctions were imposed on its oil exports, which are vital to the country's economy. Despite threats to the contrary from Iranian officials last week, on Monday military officials insisted there were no plans to close the waterway. "No order has been given for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But we are prepared for various scenarios," navy chief Habibollah Sayyari told state television. Deputy navy Commander Mahmoud Mousavi called the military excercises a "tactical" expression of the country's ability to control the strait if necessary.

Fuel Rod Breakthrough

Tehran continues to deny that it is attempting to build nuclear weapons, insisting their program is for generating electricity alone. On Sunday, Iranian state television announced a breakthrough in their nuclear progress, reporting the country had produced uranium fuel rods for power plant use for the first time.

The conflict with the West over the program has intensified since US President Barack Obama approved new sanctions on Saturday against financial institutions that do business with Iran's central bank. Obama will have the option of applying the sanctions flexibly, and depending on how strictly they are enforced, the sanctions could block oil refiners from buying crude oil from Iran, the world's fourth largest producer of the crucial product.

The United Nations Security Council has already implemented four rounds of international sanctions against Iran in hopes of discouraging the country's nuclear ambitions. The European Union is now also considering a ban on Iranian crude oil imports. But on Saturday Iranian media reported that a nuclear negotiator would likely signal a new willingness to resume EU talks on the matter.

With international talks stalled for almost a year now, EU officials welcomed news of the offer. But Iran would not be allowed to impose any pre-conditions on such negotiations, a spokesperson for EU foreign affairs representative Catherine Ashton said on Sunday.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle's had a similar reaction, encouraging Iran to abandon vague proclamations and urging the country to undertake "concrete, verifiable action" in the matter.

German commentators on Monday warned both sides to exercise caution in the potentially explosive conflict.