Tensions continue to run high in the Persian Gulf, as Iran conducts a massive military exercise meant to send a clear warning to the international community. The elite Iranian Revolutionary Gaurd test fired a "Shahab 3" ballistic missile on Wednesday which has a range of over 2,000 kilometers and is capable of striking Israel. The launch provoked a strong reaction from the US and Israel, as both countries reaffirmed that they have not ruled out a military strike against Iran's nuclear program. 07/09/08