Iran test fired nine missiles Wednesday in what appears to be a warning the country will retaliate if its nuclear program is attacked. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat, says the situation raises his interest.
Harkin says he’s always concerned about any country that test fires missiles, and is concerned about Iran and its leader’s saber rattling. "The real question is, how do we respond to it?," Harkin says. Harkin says the best response would be to engage Iran in talks.
Harkin says the U.S. should try to work with some of the more moderate elements in Iran, rather and respond to their saber rattling, with more saber rattling. "That would just escalate things and it might get out of control," Harkin says, "so I think we have to approach it very carefully, very cautiously."
He says the U.S. should try to work out some long-term agreements with the more moderate elements in the Iranian society. The missile tests took place at the same time that Iran has been conducting military exercises in the Straight of Hormuz and threatening to block oil tankers from leaving the straight.