Iran to test-fire missile in strategic waterway

Tehran said it will test-fire missiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, a move likely to stoke tensions with Washington already running high over Irans threats to close the strategic oil waterway if sanctions are enforced.Shorter- and longer-range, ground-to-sea, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles will be tested on Saturday, the ISNA news agency quoted Irans navy spokesman, Commodore Mahmoud Mousavi, as saying on Friday.Iran, which has been carrying out war games in the Strait of Hormuz over the past week, has said that not a drop of oil would pass through the strait if Western governments follow through with planned additional sanctions over its nuclear programme.The US State Department said on Thursday that Irans threat to close the waterway, through which more than a third of the worlds tanker-borne oil passes, exhibited irrational behavior and will not be tolerated.The naval manoeuvres launched by Iran in the strait on December 24 have so far included mine-laying and the use of aerial drones, according to Iranian media.Analysts and oil market traders have been watching developments in and around the Strait of Hormuz carefully, fearing that the intensifying war of words between arch foes Tehran and Washington could spark open confrontation.With tensions over the straight simmering, Iran-rival Saudi Arabi announced that it had signed a deal to buy 84 new US fighter jets in order maximise defence capabilities in the oil-rich kingdom.On Thursday, the US said the $30 billion (23 billion euro) deal sent a strong message to the Gulf region, where Riyadh has voiced concerns about Tehrans efforts to boost its influence.In addition to buying the new aircraft, Saudi Arabia will be able to modernize 70 existing planes while procuring munitions, spare parts, training and maintenance contracts, US officials said.Two US warships had entered a zone where Iran was conducting its war games, but a US naval spokeswoman said the ships were travelling as part of a pre-planned, routine operation and were not deployed as a show of strength.