World Tribune.com

Iran to continue military buildup

Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Thursday, August 23, 2001

NICOSIA Ñ Iran's new government intends to continue plans to bolster its military.

President Mohammed Khatami, who has presented his new Cabinet for parliamentary approval, plans to resume efforts to obtain strategic weapons, including intermediate-range missiles, officials said. The programs would continue in cooperation with Iran's allies such as Russia and North Korea.

Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani outlined his ministry's plans in a hearing on Tuesday in parliament. Over the objection of his supporters, Khatami reappointed Shamkhani to the president's new Cabinet.

Shamkhani said Iran had not reached a sufficient level of deterrence against its neighbors and enemies in the region. The minister said this will be a priority over the next four years.

"A further push for development and restructuring of the defensive capabilities of the country to the point where we can effectively establish a deterrent force and achieve defense preparedness against regional and international threats to the country's national security is among the fundamental plans of the Defense Ministry," Shamkhani said.

The defense minister said Iran would continue to seek weapons "with effective deterrent capabilities." He would not elaborate.

Shamkhani said Iran would also continue to upgrade weaponry as well as produce systems that focus on range, precision and firepower. The minister said Teheran is also fostering cooperation with Iranian allies. He would not elaborate.

"The ministry has launched a comprehensive plan to produce and improve conventional arms for defensive uses in the aftermath of the crippling sanctions imposed during and after the 1980-1988 Iraqi-imposed war," Shamkhani said.

Iran has claimed success in producing several models of aircraft, attack helicopter, a submarine and a guided-missile warship. Officials said the military also successfully tested both a solid-fuel Fateh-110 as well as the liquid-fuel Shihab-3.

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