Iran fired nine missile tests today. The commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ air force, said: “Our missiles are ready for shooting at any place and any time, quickly and with accuracy.” This show of Iranian bravado has met with equally brash comments from US war hawks, but Reuters reports that most analysts say this is more bark than bite from Iran.

There are some interesting planetary configurations going on now for the Republic of Iran (see chart courtesy of Astrology Weekly). First, the conjunction of Chiron (wounding and healing) to the North Node (evolution of the soul) that is in place for the next few months is within 1 degree of an exact square to Uranus (rebellion and explosive activity) in the Republic of Iran chart. Second, the progressed ascendant, signifying the expression of the identity of the nation, is exactly opposite that same Uranus in the national chart.

This combination of planetary effects suggests that there is a crisis of healing (Chiron) within Iran itself that is necessary for the nation to move forward and progress (North Node). The explosion of missiles (progressed ascendant opposing Uranus) to show the world (ascendant) that Iran isn’t afraid to do something radical (Uranus) is merely a distraction from the difficulties going on within the country (Chiron).

In fact, today Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised that there would be no war between Iran and the US or Israel. So why all the tough talk?

The planets suggest that Iran is in an identity crisis and this will continue over the next few months as the progressed ascendant moves slowly in opposition to Uranus in the national chart and Chiron in the sky. In addition, transiting Pluto is preparing to cross over Iran’s Capricorn midheaven (signifying the government and rulers) beginning in early 2009 which will begin to transform (Iran’s) place in the world. Pluto tends to bring an increase or decrease in power, but the struggle of power will be paramount at that time.

The midheaven of the Iranian national chart and that of the US chart (in Libra) are in a square formation to each other, illustrating the conflict that the governments of these two countries have seen since the inception of the Republic in 1979. Transiting Pluto already began a square to the US Midheaven earlier this year, and next year it will lock Iran and the US in some sort of major conflict for national identity.