Wednesday, July 9, 2008

IRGC Test-Fires Nine Ballistic Missiles


From PressTV:
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has successfully test-fired new long and mid-range missiles in response to threats coming from US and Israel.

The IRGC tested the Shahab 3 missile, which can hit any targets within a range of 2,000 kilometers on the second day of a military exercise dubbed The Great Prophet III. Shahab 3 is equipped with a one-ton conventional warhead. Nine highly advanced missiles with improved accuracy were simultaneously tested including the Zelzal and Fateh missiles with ranges of 400km and 170km respectively .

The Great Prophet III is a joint maneuver carried out by the IRGC naval and ground forces in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz region. Press TV correspondent reporting from the site of the maneuver says the missiles could strike any target within the specified range regardless of climate conditions or the time.

IRGC Naval Commander Morteza Saffari said various missile, rocket and torpedo launchers as well as military vessels and land-to-sea missiles were tested during the exercise. "The IRGC Navy is carrying out this maneuver to show it is fully prepared to counter any possible enemy aggression or adventurism," said Saffari. "The maneuver also sends out a reassuring message to regional countries that together we can secure the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz without the presence of foreign forces," he added.

Meanwhile, IRGC Air Force Commander Hossein Salami told Press TV that the aim of the exercise was to demonstrate "just how strong-willed the Islamic Republic is in defending its sovereignty against any challenges by those enemies that have used harsh and threatening words against Iran in recent weeks."


From IRIB:

"The aim of holding this maneuver is to show (Iran's) will and authority to the enemies that have threatened Iran with harsh language in recent weeks," state broadcaster IRIB quoted a Revolutionary Guards commander as saying.

"We ... launch these missiles in honor of Iran, to show that this is only a small part of Iran's capability and defensive power," said the commander, Hossein Salami.


From Bloomberg:
Crude oil rose for the first time this week, rebounding from its biggest decline in three months, after Iran test-fired a long-range missile capable of reaching Israel and the dollar fell.


This can be considered the Islamic Republic of Iran's response to the reporting of Israel's recent air exercise over the Mediterranean. The obvious fact is that heightened tensions produce certain constructive economic benefits for Iran in its confrontation with the West, and that Israeli and American moves of a similar nature are counterproductive.

Top of post: file photo of Shahab missile launch from Fars News Agency.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

no matter what iran does, the whole world knows iran is inferior to israel and usa. i will say few day and iran will become history.

Joseph Sixpack said...

I saw in the Wall Street Journal today that Iran says war with the US or Israel is unlikely, but that Israel will implode. This seems like unusual chatter from Ahmadinejad. I'm accustomed to nothing but inflammatory rhetoric from him. It seems as though the ballistic missile launch might have been seen as provocative, so the non-inflammatory statement was made to make it less worrisome. Or am I drawing connections where none exist?

The Tough Guy said...
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Nader Uskowi said...

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