Iran builds new longer-range missile: report
Pastor Dale Morgan
Iran builds new longer-range missile: report*
TEHRAN (AFP) - - Iran on Tuesday announced it has built a new missile
with a range sufficient to put Israel and US bases in the Middle East
within easy reach, amid rising tensions over Tehran's contested nuclear
drive.
Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said the new "Ashura" missile
had a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles) -- the farthest in Iran's
arsenal -- the Fars news agency reported.
"The construction of the Ashura missile with a range of 2,000 kilometres
is one of the accomplishments of the ministry of defence," the agency
quoted Najjar as saying.
However there has been considerable confusion in recent months about the
capacities of Iran's longer-range missiles, seen by experts as one of
its chief military assets.
Iran in September at its main military parade unveiled a missile
labelled Ghadr-1 (Power), which was said to have a range of 1,800
kilometres (1,100 miles).
Iran's best-known longer-range missile, the Shahab-3, has been said by
officials in the past to have a range of 2,000 kilometres. Yet at the
military parade it was said to have only a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) range.
Some Western military experts claimed that the Ghadr-1 was no more than
a Shahab-3 under a different name. It has the "baby bottle" style nose
for extra aerodynamic efficiency seen on versions of the Shahab-3.
The Fars news agency, known for its coverage of military affairs, did
not publish any new pictures of the new missile, which is named after
the holy Ashura mourning ceremony that marks the death of Shiite imam
Hossein.
Iran has regularly touted the abilities of its missile arsenal at a time
of mounting tension with the West over its nuclear programme.
The defence minister also announced that Iran had developed a new
submarine named "Ghadir" after another holy day and a destroyer called
"Moj" (wave), without giving further details.
The United States has never ruled out a military attack against Iran to
punish its years of defiance in the nuclear crisis, even though
Washington says it favours solving the standoff though diplomacy.
The Islamic republic has said it will never initiate any attack but has
also warned it will strike back with crushing force if the United States
launches an assault.
Iranian military officials have publicly threatened to hit US bases in
Iraq, Afghanistan and on the Arabian peninsula with its missiles if
Washington attacks.
"Iran will never launch an attack but if Iran is attacked we will
respond with all our force against aggressors," Najjar was quoted by saying.
The United States accuses Iran of trying to develop a nuclear weapon, a
charge that Tehran vehemently denies.
It has also vowed never to recognise Israel -- the region's sole if
undeclared nuclear power -- and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called
for the Jewish state to be "wiped from the map."
Iran is one of the few regional powers absent from a US-hosted meeting
in Annapolis, Maryland that aims to kick-start peace talks between
Israel and the Palestinians.
Iranian officials have expressed frustration that states such as Saudi
Arabia and its ally Syria are taking part in the meeting.