Iran states claim as number one Middle East missile power
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, November 15, 1999
NICOSIA [MENL] -- Iran boasts that it has one of the largest missile
arsenals and capabilities in the Middle East.
The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Maj. Gen. Yahya
Rahim-Safavi, said in remarks reported by the official Islamic Republic News
Agency that Iran is a major ballistic missile power. He said the
Revolutionary Guards is equipped with missile boats that can fire missiles
at a range of more than 100 kilometers.
Rahim-Safavi did not give more details about the equipment in his force.
But he said the Revolutionary Guards has acquired the power to defend Iran
from foreign threats.
On Saturday, the Iranian pro-government newspaper, Resalat, entitled its
article: "Iran among biggest ballistic missile powers in Middle East."
Western intelligence agencies said Iran is pursuing at least four
different surface-to-surface missile programs. They include the Shihab-3,
with a range of 1,300 kilometers; Shihab-4, with a range of 2,000
kilometers, Shihab-5, with a range of 4-6,000 kilometers and an unnamed
program that aims to produce a missile with a range of 10,000 kilometers.
Rahim-Safavi, said his forces are ready to defend the country's borders
and safeguard the Islamic revolution. The general again attacked the U.S.
presence in the Gulf region.
"The presence of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' navy in the
strategic islands of the Persian Gulf, the planning of
measures and appropriate defensive technology as well as the deployment of
some units of the corps along the country's northeastern borders, have
created full defensive security in these regions of the country,"
Rahim-Safavi said.
The general said Iran can rely on 20 million people to defend the
country.
Monday, November 15, 1999
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