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Iran Threatens Missile Attacks, Hoping Trump Sees Strength
(Wall Street Journal) Benoit Faucon - Though Israel pounded Iran's missile launchers and storage sites during a 12-day war in June, the regime emerged from the conflict with much of its remaining arsenal intact. More important, Iran learned how to get more of its missiles past Israeli and American defenses as the war went on. That has forced the White House to worry about Iran's ability to target Israel and U.S. forces, as well as friendly Arab countries in the Persian Gulf and the wider region. Tehran still has an estimated 2,000 midrange ballistic missiles that can reach across the region. It also has significant stockpiles of short-range missiles capable of reaching U.S. bases in the Gulf and ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as antiship cruise missiles. "With decimated allies and nuclear capabilities, Iran's ballistic missiles now constitute the backbone of Iran's deterrence," said Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will discuss Iran with President Trump when they meet Wednesday in Washington. "The Prime Minister believes any negotiations must include limitations on ballistic missiles and a halting of the support for the Iranian axis," Netanyahu's office said Saturday. This past week, hard-liners in Tehran said Iran's missile program was the main reason the U.S. hasn't attacked Iran and had opted for talks instead.