This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/biden-iran-under-close-watch-amid-reports-of-missile-tests/2016/03/09/0ea91908-e56e-11e5-a9ce-681055c7a05f_story.html

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Biden: Iran under close watch amid reports of missile tests Biden: Iran under close watch amid reports of missile tests
(about 1 hour later)
JERUSALEM — Vice President Joe Biden warned Wednesday that the United States leaves open all options to take action against Iran for activity outside the nuclear deal, sharpening American concern after apparent back-to-back missile tests by Tehran. JERUSALEM — Vice President Biden warned Wednesday that the United States leaves open all options to take action against Iran for activity outside a landmark nuclear deal, sharpening American concern after apparent back-to-back missile tests by Tehran.
The remarks by Biden, on a visit to reassure Israeli allies who strongly opposed the nuclear pact, came amid reports by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of the test firings of two ballistic missiles with ranges capable of reaching Israel. The remarks by Biden, on a visit to reassure Israeli allies who strongly opposed last year’s nuclear pact, came as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reported the test firings of two ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel.
Similar Iranian tests claimed Tuesday brought threats of further sanctions by the United States, which already imposed some measures on Iran following other missile tests last year.Similar Iranian tests claimed Tuesday brought threats of further sanctions by the United States, which already imposed some measures on Iran following other missile tests last year.
Iranian state televisions showed video purporting to show the test firings of the missiles, which the Revolutionary Guard said was part of the Iranian arsenal able to hit Israeli targets. Iranian state television broadcast video purporting to show the test firings of the missiles, which the Revolutionary Guard said were part of an Iranian arsenal able to hit Israeli targets.
The tests signaled a show of strength by Iran’s military and appeared timed to coincide with Biden’s trip. It also follows stunning gains in last month’s parliamentary elections by Iranian moderates who back President Hassan Rouhani and support the nuclear deal, which was criticized by Iranian hard-liners including some members of the Revolutionary Guard. The tests signaled a show of strength by Iran’s military and appeared timed to coincide with Biden’s trip. They also followed stunning gains in last month’s parliamentary elections by Iranian moderates who back President Hassan Rouhani and support the nuclear deal, which was criticized by Iranian hard-liners including some members of the Revolutionary Guard. The deal was formally implemented in January.
[Iran’s moderates not changing minds among U.S. critics][Iran’s moderates not changing minds among U.S. critics]
Iranian agencies had reported that the missiles tested on Wednesday were stamped with the message in Hebrew: “Israel should be wiped from the pages of history.” But such markings were not seen in state-issued photos and video. Iran’s semiofficial Fars News Agency reported that the missiles tested on Wednesday were stamped with the message in Hebrew: “Israel must be wiped out from.” However, there was no immediate confirmation of the report, and no such markings were seen in state-issued photos and video.
Missile development is not specifically prohibited under the nuclear deal, which places clear limits on Tehran’s uranium enrichment and other programs to block a potential pathway toward nuclear weapons. In exchange, most international sanctions on Iran were lifted. Missile development is not specifically prohibited under the nuclear deal, which severely limits Tehran’s uranium-enrichment and other programs to block a potential pathway toward nuclear weapons. In exchange, most international sanctions on Iran were lifted.
Iran claims has a right to development conventional weapons and insists the missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads. But the reported tests were seen has highly provocative by the West and its allies, and brought calls for further U.S. sanctions. Iran claims it has a right to development conventional weapons and insists that the missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads. But the reported tests were seen as highly provocative by the West and its allies, and brought calls for further U.S. sanctions.
Biden said the United States “will act” if Iran violates the nuclear pact. He also said close watch will be kept on all Iranian programs outside the accord.Biden said the United States “will act” if Iran violates the nuclear pact. He also said close watch will be kept on all Iranian programs outside the accord.
[Biden arrives in Israel to talk billions in military aid — and patch things up][Biden arrives in Israel to talk billions in military aid — and patch things up]
“All their conventional activity outside the deal, which is still beyond the deal, we will and are attempting to act wherever we can find it,” he told reporters.“All their conventional activity outside the deal, which is still beyond the deal, we will and are attempting to act wherever we can find it,” he told reporters.
He repeated U.S. assurances that “a nuclear-armed Iran is an absolutely unacceptable threat to Israel, the region and the United States.”He repeated U.S. assurances that “a nuclear-armed Iran is an absolutely unacceptable threat to Israel, the region and the United States.”
“There is no need to doubt that the United States has Israel’s back,” Biden said following meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu. “This is a commitment that goes deeper than security.” “There is no need to doubt that the United States has Israel’s back,” Biden said following meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “This is a commitment that goes deeper than security.”
On Tuesday, a Palestinian attack went on a stabbing rampage less than a mile from where Biden spoke at a peace center in the Mediterranean port of Jaffa. The attacks killed an American tourist — a graduate student from Vanderbilt University — and left 10 people wounded before the assailant was fatally shot by police, officials said. In one of a series of attacks Tuesday, a Palestinian went on a stabbing rampage less than a mile from where Biden spoke at a peace center in the Mediterranean port of Jaffa. An American tourist — a graduate student from Vanderbilt University — was killed and 10 people were wounded before the assailant was fatally shot by police, officials said.
It is unknown whether the assaults were timed to generate attention during Biden’s visit. But Israelis were left toggling between images on news and social media showing Biden’s Air Force Two jet landing at Ben Gurion airport and chaotic scenes of wailing ambulances and blood stains. It is unknown whether the assaults were timed to generate attention during Biden’s visit. But Israelis were left toggling between images on news and social media showing Biden’s Air Force Two jet landing at Ben Gurion airport and chaotic scenes of wailing ambulances and bloodstains.
At least 14 Israelis were wounded, some seriously, in the four attacks. All of the four Palestinian assailants were killed at the scenes.At least 14 Israelis were wounded, some seriously, in the four attacks. All of the four Palestinian assailants were killed at the scenes.
Netanyahu had specifically charged that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas did not condemn the attacks.Netanyahu had specifically charged that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas did not condemn the attacks.
Abbas’s Fatah party posted a drawing on its Twitter account Tuesday of a hand clenching a knife over a map of Israel and the Palestinian territories. It described the Palestinian assailant as a “hero” and “martyr.”Abbas’s Fatah party posted a drawing on its Twitter account Tuesday of a hand clenching a knife over a map of Israel and the Palestinian territories. It described the Palestinian assailant as a “hero” and “martyr.”
“The United States condemns these acts,” said Biden on Wednesday, “and condemns the failure to condemn these acts.” “The United States condemns these acts,” Biden said Wednesday, “and condemns the failure to condemn these acts.”
Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.