BICOM

Iran on Sunday announced that it had successfully tested a medium range, radar-evading missile in the Persian Gulf, in a move likely to antagonise the West. The Deputy commander of the Iranian Navy, Mahmoud Mousavi, said that the medium range surface to air missile was equipped with the ‘latest sophisticated anti-radar technologies.’ The test took place at the conclusion of a 10-day naval exercise by the Iranian Navy in the Gulf.

Iran, also over the weekend, announced that it had succeeded in producing and testing its own uranium fuel rods for use in its nuclear power plants. If true, this claim would constitute a significant advance in Iran’s efforts to attain the capability of powering its nuclear reactors without international assistance.

In an additional significant development over the weekend, US President Barack Obama on Saturday signed a law imposing tougher financial sanctions on Iran because of its refusal to cease enriching uranium. The move could for the first time hit at Iranian oil exports – a vital part of the Iranian economy.