The point of all this worry about Iran is that it has been, is and probably remain a unknown quantity, a country overly influenced by religious autocrats and that sponsors terrorism. Iran having nuclear weapons adds to this. Why anyone iranian is surprised by the west's worries defeats me.

John, Knutsford, UK

I wonder why these shameful acts by the Iranian regime better known as the Mullah's Regime are so generalised on the Iranians or Iran? The 80 million or so Iranians do not support the Theocracy imposed on them for nor the WAR option and are actively pursuing their Democratic Goals.

Babol, Surrey, UK

Oh no, they can doctor photos in 45 minutes!

Farrukh, Woking,

If it failed completely I suspect we would hear from other channels; this just appears a matter of editing the pic for timing. For those laughing try a search for "sunburn missle, iran" and see if you still grin. Also "wiping Israel off the map" comment was heavily debunked a long time ago. Keep up!

alan, Kuching,

Missiles aside. The US doesn't recognize Iran's regime as legit-otherwise it would talk with them just as the EU does; so how does the US expect the rest of the world to resolve its so called problems with Iran, when in the end the US obviously doesn't even want such a regime in Iran?

Eftekhar Ali, Dubai, UAE

Iran has a limited number of missiles surely reduced by lots of test firing. Israel has 1000sof their own, a nuclear program given them by the Americans (and conveniently outside the nuclear proliferation treaty!) and the backing of the most powerful country in the World - who HAS attacked for a lie

mark, bracknell,

2nd say;
Iran's long intention to destroy Israel would depend on how much it possess fire capabilities. H'ver, Iran might be pushed to corner to fire a neuclear missile to Isreal once it reavealed that it's existence is in risk.

faruk, dubai, uae

Do I hear Mohammed Sayed al-Shahaf chuckling in the background?

Lucky Eddie, Claremont, south Africa

Iran is apparently holding hostage the region's stability with nothing more dangerous than a squirt gun, which makes it all the easier for regional powers to nip those deranged 'revolutionaries' in the bud, even in spite of the predictable repercussions from silly Iran and its terrorist proxies.

Alex, Washington, USA

Let's face it - the Iranians ain't all that. No matter how hard they try to make it seem otherwise, they are a third rate military power, anxious to appear as a formidable fighting force. But when you have to figure out how to hang Hawk surface to air missiles on old Tomcats - that's desperation.

Danny, Irvine, CA, USA

I wonder what editing program they used. Whatever it is, these pictures should go on the back of the box to show what you can do with it. I'd buy it.

Jeff, Sacramento, California, USA

"The United States believes Iran did fire seven missiles -- including one long-range Shahab-3 -- on Wednesday, as it claimed. The source said one missile failed to launch and the Iranians fired it the following day, U.S. intelligence suggests."
(CNN)

This means the missile had a minor problem.

j.bell, Birmingham,

Daniel, Belfast,

Well said. very reasonable.

People, exposing the "attempt to cover the misfire" will not help to reduce potential conflicts in the region. Fact remains Iran is capable of hitting out in response to an attack by Israel or US.
Let's talk peace instead of war.
120708

Lim Hing Thing, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Isn't it surprising that bodies like International Institute of Strategic Studies have strong links to Israel and often use data provided by Israel and US. What more can I say. Since US and its allies messed up by lying before the Iraq war, I think it is safe to Mark Fitzpatrick's piece is unsafe.

Tom, Bury, UK

Israel has Nukes, no need for them to Worry!

It as a "missile tests", they are just covering up the results of a bad test, simple really.

The first 50 bombs dropped on Iraq all missed there target and killed Civilians!

The Military Industrial Complex WINS AGAIN!!

Andrew Towell, Hartlepool, England, UK

Israel don't need to worry about Iran's "official" military. They are on another level.

What the Israelis will suffer from are the proxy forces and militants, which are unbeatable in terms of conventional warfare.

Larry, London,

To abharrisson, London

UK.. rich country.. good living standards... sea-locked borders... theres no chance they would be invaded by a neighbour.. why don't we just live life rather than wasting our money in various wars??

Hypocrisy anyone..!!???

SG, London, UK

Cloned or doctored, any difference? The fact is 3 missiles did lift off and if they striked their targets, objective achieved. Even if one only got off the ground, the Iranians had proven their capability to deploy the stuff.
It is unwise to harp on ones superiority and misjudge others.
110708

Lim Hing Thing, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Guys, I do not think you should believe everything you hear or see in the media. This could be the other way round. Where all four missiles did launch but the someone somewhere is trying to make a joke out of Iran.

Abdul, London, UK

Faulty missiles or not we just went to DEFCON 2. Check out the Jerusalem Post's Iranian Threat section. The Iraqi Ministry of Defence CONFIRMS ISREALI JETS ARE ACTIVE IN IRAQI AIRSPACE AND TRAINING FOR ATTACK SORTIES IN LIEU WITH AMERICAN FORCES.

GO TEAM. GODSPEED AND GOOD LUCK.

Kwame, London, United Kingdom

If one of the missile plumes is fake, why stop there? Perhaps the others also have been doctored. For instance, look at the missile on the extreme left, it is at a different angle. Furthermore look at the unnatural relationship between the sand clouds and the missile plumes. More fakery, perhaps?

Lance Poll, Manchester,

I really don't get all this nonsense... Iran.. rich country.. good living standards... their borders are their borders... theres no chance they will be allowed to "expand" and no chance they would be invaded by a neighbour.. why don't they just live life rather than wasting all their money on games.

abharrisson, london,

I'm sure the Iranian people will greet US soldiers with flowers. It is worth trying to liberate them, this time we could be right.

jayil, london, uk

This is great! Hat's off to their Photoshop employees. I want them to take a clip of Test Shot Mike in Bikini Atoll and superimpose it over their desert. This makes me not want to attacke them at all. They are way too funny!

Jim P, Sacramento, California

Would Jack care to explain how Iran is a "threat to the rest of the world"? Is it not obvious that Iran has more to fear than we do? It is a weak state in comparison to the western powers.

I can see nothing in relation to our relationship with Iran that cannot be solved in a diplomatic manner.

Daniel, Belfast,

about Iran firing missles into israel what now ? , end game .
Iran has no airforce.
israel fires its REAL land based missles along with sub based missles , followed up by USA and israel airforces firing tons upon tons of bombs 24 hours a day, day after day on iran till israel is forced to stop.

gandolf, PEI, canada

like saddam's millions of missles,Iran's bark seems louder than it's "true"bite....me thinks they protest too much....just call their bluff,they'll run with their collective tales dragging behing them.....

barry, halifax, canada

Hm, another attempt to redicule Iran. Given the threat posed by Israel (and their enormous WMD arsenal), and its threatened act of aggression (terrorism if against civilian nuclear power plants?) its entirely understandable to test their missiles. Shame they dont all appear to work!

Karl Rainer, Guildford, UK

There will be a lot of very nervous neighbours in the vicinity,Iranians (Persians) are despised and mistrusted by their near Arabic neighbours ,Saudis,Kuwaitis etc ( Syria being the exception) in all probability they are just as likely as Israel to on the REGIMES TO BE TOPPLED folder in Tehran

John McDade, Glasgow, Scotland

The ex-French President made it plain & clear. If Iran attempts to bomb Israel, Iran won't exist. They will end their own demise. Not Iranians, rather their army, parliament, will be blown sky high. Their Military government will cease. Iranians then, will probably have open democratic elections?

nick, Perth, Australia

The assumption of failure is not well justified. Another possibility is that only three were supposed to launch when this picture was taken, the fourth (and any other launchers not pictured) being launched later. The alteration could be to obscure the launcher or the firing pattern.

Nate Crawford, Irvine, CA, USA

The one thing that still baffles me is the sabre rattling over irans nuclear programme " but why is nobody talking about the isreali's nuclear weapons which has been acknowledged worldwide"

iran has got the right to develop nuclear programme either peaceful or not cause, isreal has got it.

sunday obikoya, london, united kingdom

People forget so easily. Try to remember Iraq was similarly placed during the 1990s. They had lots of missiles, lots of elite guards, and lots of bombast (mother of all battles) and were threatening to become a major local power. That's when Mr World Policeman cut them down to size. Iran's a sucker!

Rakesh Krishnan, au, New Zealand

At least the fake photo is closer to reality, and more credible, than the laughable satellite pictures that the US government showed to the UN to "prove" that Iraq had WMD. Similarly, I advise against not taking Iran seriously.

Martin Baldwin-Edwards, Athens, Greece

The world will be a much better (and safer) place once the current Iranian regime is removed. I just hope Obama / McCain & Olmert have the conviction to deal with these ignorant zealots.

Sacha Varma, Marbella, Spain

digitall enhanced :O . trust me if they were going to digitally enhance an image like this they wouldnt have gave it to a 10 yr old , and btw even one of them would do the job and youd rather focus on the three not the one that didnt launch :D (btw , IF IT DIDNT ?!!

John, Toronto, Canada

When I served in the US Navy, 2 of the 3 Sea Sparrow missiles we tested on our shakedown cruise were duds, so I'd say the Iranian success rate of 75% is not too bad.

Jim Lang, Alberton, Montana, USA

The Iranian leadership is like a bully in the schoolyard. They talk a great game but when put to the test, they will fold like a cheap suit. What other government has a president that publicly calls for the total destruction of another country? Too many of you are guilt ridden and P.C. Pathetic!

Ernie, collegeville, USA

AN Isreali stirike on Iran nuclear facilities justifies any country stricking against any other's. It would be a horrible wrong and this powermongering disguised as "anti-terrorism" is abhorrent.

Dane, SC, USA

Hey Mark, Israel did not take the West Bank and Gaza in a defensive war, it started that war by attacking Egypt in 1967 claiming that, alhough Israeli officials admitted Egypt was in a defensive posture and didn't have enough troops deployed for an offensive move, that it was a pre-emptive strike.

Jeff Gillis, Eugne, Oregon

the UN needs to send in Photoshop Inspectors to Iran or even better Israel can just fly over and bomb whatever it likes. Then the USA can accuse Iran of being the axis of evil and having weapons of mass destruction while Iran sweeps up after the Israel bombings, bombs provided by the USA....

tim, london,

no surprise. hezbollah iran's proxies adopt the same tactics in lebanon doctoring photos to exaggerate damage from bombing and the like, but doctoring photos to talk their own military up smacks of desperation just a tad. must be getting scared.

tim, sydney, aus

To Andy Shaw, UK - Like Mark in NY, I suggest you read a book about Israel and where it's located. If Israel were a bunch of wimps like us Brits are now, it would have been wiped off the face of the planet already. If you're surrounded by enemies your [only/best] form of defence is attack.

Mark, West Bromwich, UK

They were only trying to improve the composition. the shot has better symmetry, eye-appeal and sense of dynamism in the Photoshoped version.

Ernie, Boyds, USA

Launching 75% of your missiles does not mean 75% will even hit their ranged target. Of the percentage of their missiles that hit their target what percentage will be shot down by the patriot missile systems that are deployed to protect from such attacks? It would be a shame for any to die though.

Mike, Denver, CO, USA

Mark NY,

Israel has one of the largest militaries in the world and is one of only a few nuclear powers (not so "tiny"). I suggest you read some books because Israel initiated the June 1967 war, besides the fact that it is "inadmissible to aquire territory by war" according to international law.

Joel, Lloydminster, SK, Canada

3/4 of Iranian missiles are 100% reliable. My husband who is an Arab was very sad. He says that Iranians messed up and now Israel will erase Iran. I kissed him and made him confortable. I don't believe politics, but I believe in love.

Yaakov Sullivan, NYC,

Hey Andy Shaw UK- why include Israel as one of the biggest aggressors in the world today? They are defending a tiny country in a sea of brutal Arab dictatorships. FYI, Israel won the WB and Gaza in defensive wars in which they were attacked by Arabs. Read a book and stop trying to make up history.

Mark, NY, US

Now Iran can totally photoshop Israel off the face of the Earth... not good..

chris, Boston, usa

Lets face it. The biggest aggressors in the world nowadays are the Americans and the Israelis. Between them they occupy nearly a dozen nations

Andy, Shaw, uk

They still managed to launch 3/4s of their missiles. If launched in anger the people on the receiving end would probably not be laughing at a 25% failure rate.

That said Iran are a pain in the backside. They are causing serious international strife by their attempts to show power.

David, David, England

What's foolish is the childish disrespect shown toward the Iranians. You're just giving them more incentive to hate the West. Sure, they made a mistake today, but what about in twenty years? I'm saddened by the lame bravado of so many of my compatriots.

Charles, Salt Lake City, USA

"Israeli sabre-rattling has got them worried - and rightly so".

Perhaps it is oil dropping $9 that financed it all. notice oil spiked as the pictures were released

Money for nothing as one might say

Nicholas Iles, Oswestry, Shropshire

So what does this prove exactly? That Iranian misslies are only 75% reliable?

I take it that every image we see, and every pronouncement we hear about western weapons systems is true.

Luke Mitchell, London, UK

The smoke trail on the far right rocket is unique.

jayil, london, uk

It would be funny if the Iranians were not akin to a child playing with dynamite. Their feeble attempt to cover up a launch failure makes them seem ridiculous, which they are, but it doesn't make them less of the threat to their neighbours, or the rest of the world.

Jack Thompson, Charlotte, USA

...and it's not even that clever. The sand cloud at the base of the "inserted" rocket is identical to the cloud at the far right of the pic. They've just cloned it!

Colin, London, Uk