Barack Obama, John McCain react to Iranian missile tests

Hours after Iran reported that it has tested nine missiles during war games, the likely Democratic and Republican presidential candidates issued calls for dealing with the latest twist in U.S.-Iran relations.

In separate statements, Democrat Barack Obama said Iran’s actions called for “direct, aggressive and sustained diplomacy,” while Republican John McCain said the tests showed the need for an effective missile defense in Europe and multilateral diplomacy.

Iran’s state-run television announced today that the government had tested nine long- and medium-range missiles, including a new version of a missile that has a 1,250-mile range. That range would allow its missiles to reach Israel as well as Turkey, parts of the Arabian peninsula and Pakistan.

“Through its nuclear program, missile capability, meddling in Iraq, support for terrorism and threats against Israel, Iran now poses the greatest strategic challenge to the United States in the region in a generation,” Obama said.

He called on the United States to work with allies “to pursue direct and aggressive diplomacy with the Iranian regime backed by tougher unilateral and multilateral sanctions.

“It’s time to offer the Iranians a clear choice between increased costs for continuing their troubling behavior, and concrete incentives that would come if they change course,” Obama said.

In his statement, McCain noted that the tests show that Iran could be a danger to longtime U.S. ally Israel.

“Ballistic missile testing coupled with Iran’s continued refusal to cease its nuclear activities should unite the international community in efforts to counter Iran’s dangerous ambitions,” he said.

“Iran’s missile tests also demonstrate the need for effective missile defense now and in the future, and this includes missile defense in Europe as is planned with the Czech Republic and Poland. Working with our European and regional allies is the best way to meet the threat posed by Iran, not unilateral concessions that undermine multilateral diplomacy,” McCain said.

Diplomacy, when and to whom the United States should talk, is one of the issues that divides the likely presidential candidates.

Obama has argued there is a need to talk to enemies of the United States after the proper amount of preparation.

In the case of Iran, Obama’s website notes: “Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions,” a reference to the Bush administration’s stand that Iran abandon any plans for nuclear weapons before diplomatic talks.

McCain, who has stressed his foreign and military policy experience as campaign issues, has criticized Obama, arguing he is too willing to talk to opponents of the United States.

At a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, McCain said the missile test appears to have been conducted by the Iranian National Guard.

“This is the same organization that I voted to condemn as a terrorist organization when an amendment was on the floor of the United States Senate,” he said. “Senator Obama refused to vote. He called it provocative, a provocative step. The fact is, this is a terrorist organization and it should have been branded as such.”

 michael.muskal@latimes.com