US makes turnabout

In a shift in policy, the United States will send an envoy to talks this weekend between Iran and major powers in Geneva, a senior US official said on Tuesday.

The United States had said previously it would not be involved in any pre-negotiations with Teheran unless it gave up uranium enrichment.

The US official made clear the ground rules were that Burns would not act as a negotiator and not meet separately with Jalili but would put forward the White House position that Iran must give up enrichment for any real talks to start.

The standoff over Iran's nuclear activities has sparked speculation of a military confrontation with the United States or Israel and helped push up oil prices to record levels.

Iran has vowed to strike back at Tel Aviv, as well as US interests and shipping, if it is attacked.

The Pentagon said on Tuesday that Iran has the ability to launch a ballistic missile capable of hitting sections of eastern and southern Europe.

Air Force Lt. Gen. Trey Obering, director of the Missile Defense Agency, said he believes Iran now has a missile with a range of 2,000 km, but he declined to say whether the weapon has been test-fired.

Iran can deter any threats against it, the head of the Revolutionary Guards said in comments published yesterday, after the country's air force announced plans for a military exercise to help deter its foes.

Iran's state Press TV late on Tuesday said the country's air force would in the near future hold large-scale drills.

Iran is estimated to have 280 combat aircraft, including Russian-made MiG 29 fighter jets, but serviceability may be 80 percent or lower.

"We have upgraded our air force fleet, radar systems, and missile systems over the past few years and we are now ready to counter any threat," Air force commander Ahmad Mighani said.

But analysts say Iran's real ability to respond to any attack could be with more unconventional tactics than a missile salvo, such as deploying small craft to hit oil tankers, or using allies in the area to strike at US or Israeli interests.

(China Daily via agencies July 17, 2008)