Iran Military Sweep 2007-2008 Iran holds f-14 tracker aircraft exercises

Iran Military Sweep 2007-2008
Iran holds F-14 tracker aircraft exercises
[Correction: Changing the name Chitsaz to Chitforush through out the text; a corrected version of the text is as follows]Text of report by Iranian conservative, privately-owned Fars News Agency website
The air force of the Islamic Republic has conducted the last phase of the tactical exercises of the F-14 tracker aircraft in the first stage of the Devotees of the Guardianship air manoeuvres.
Fars cites the Public Relations Office of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic where its Spokesman, Air Commodore Hoseyn Chitforush, said: The valiant pilots of the Islamic Republic's Air Force have conducted air sorties by fighters, bombers and fighter-bombers from various bases in the early hours of the morning. The exercises were held over terrain in which rounds of [anti-aircraft] firing were being conducted [from the ground against the flights]. These exercise flights are on-going.
He added: At this stage, F-14 aircraft held the last phase of their tactical flights.
Chitforush added: Unmanned aircraft, reconnaissance, electronic tracking and Sa'iqeh which have all been built by the capable personnel of this force en-masse were displayed at this stage of the manoeuvres.

Source: Fars News Agency website, Tehran, in Persian 0811 gmt 17 Oct 08

Iran media accuse West of undermining Tehran's missile power

Iran's media accused Western media of undermining the country's missile capability. Iranian media took issue with foreign media reports which claimed that the published stills of Iran's recent missile tests were "fabricated" and that that the firing of one of the missiles was not conducted successfully at the initial stage and so the missile had to be fired the following day.

While the Iranian agencies and newspapers focused on the repercussions of the recent missile test by the Iran Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Iranian state-run TV and radio said that the way the test was covered by Western media was aimed at reducing Iran's "bargaining power" over nuclear case.

TV and Radio

Iranian TV channel one, IRTV1, during its 0930 gmt news bulletin carried a report criticizing Western media for portraying Iran's missile capabilities as "insignificant". It said: "The American and Zionist networks which are still in a state of total confusion over the missile tests have embarked on a new project to undermine Iran's missile capability." It also quoted other Western media as saying that the pictures relating to Iran's missile tests were "doctored". In their news bulletins, Iranian state-run radio, VIRI, at 0930 gmt, Iranian TV channel two, IRTV2, at 1500 gmt, Iranian news network channel, IRINN, at 1530 gmt, and IRTV1 at 1630 gmt carried similar reports and analyses.
In its commentary at 0930 gmt news bulletin, IRTV1 carried a live interview with a commentator who rejected the claims that the photos regarding Iran's missile test were "doctored". He said that by disseminating such news, Western media aim to reduce Iran's "bargaining power" over nuclear issue.
IRINN at 1600 gmt broadcast a live programme in which a commentator talked about the recent missile test and said it "neutralized the psychological wars of the enemies against Iran".
VIRI's 1930 gmt news bulletin quoted Government Spokesman Gholamhoseyn Elham's statements on the missile test. He said: "The recent missile manoeuvre displayed only a small part of Iran's combat and defence power." Elham who was speaking at his weekly press conference added: "Israel is incapable of attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran".

Agencies
Fars News Agency quoted the supreme leader's representative in the IRGC as saying that "if Israel and America fire a bullet or a missile at Iran, our armed forces will target the heart of Israel and 32 American bases in the region". Another report said that the recent military exercise by the IRGC proved that the Iran's defence power and agility capabilities have increased.

Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, quoted Government Spokesman Gholamhoseyn Elham as saying that Israel is "incapable" of attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran. Elham rejected the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran and said: "Such military stupidity will not take place".

Newspapers

Iranian newspapers, mainly conservative and hardline ones, covered some reports and analyses regarding the missile tests.
The conservative Javan daily carried a news item entitled: "Iran's defensive capability exceeds that of Shahab-3." A top ranking official was quoted as saying that Iran's missile capability exceeds that of Shahab-3, whose 2,000-kilometre range, he said, is causing concern for Israeli leaders. He added that Iran has successfully tested a missile that is more advanced than Shahab-3 and "may be announced once it is used."
The hardline Jomhuri-ye Eslami carried an editorial saying that the first international reaction to Iran's missile tests came from Israel with an immediate announcement that it has no intention of going to war with Iran. The editorial said this is because Israel "fears that they may suffer the same defeat as they did against the Lebanese Hezbollah in the 33-day war". The editorial added: "Israelis accuse Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons programme and therefore threaten to strike its nuclear installations knowing that the programme is peaceful and supervised by the IAEA. Iran's superior defensive power would make any aggressor regret attacking Iran."
The conservative Resalat daily, said that the West is unable to calculate Iran's reaction to its actions and concluded that "the West should either continue its threats against Iran and accept its consequences, or recognized Islamic Iran as the most powerful country in the region".

Source: Media observation by BBC Monitoring in English 12 Jul 08

Iran Foreign Ministry says US military exercise to boost morale of troops

(Correcting the broadcast time from 0401 to 0631)
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Hoseyni has said that the US military exercise in the Persian Gulf is nothing new and it is only to boost the morale of American soldiers in the region.
During his weekly press conference on Sunday, 27 May, Hoseyni said: "Concerning the presence of American warships, you should bear in mind that the movement [of American fleet] is nothing new and it has been happening for many years. It seems that such moves are mainly to boost the morale of the American soldiers."

Source: Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, Tehran, in Persian 0631 gmt 27 May 07

Tehran Basij exercise to resist enemies' threats - commander
Text of report headlined: "Military exercises of 20 North Tehran Basij battalions to resist hostile threats" published by hardline Iranian daily Javan on 8 July
Commander of North Tehran Corps General Behruz Khadem-Hoseyni announced the start of military exercises of 20 Ashura battalions at North Tehran highlands to resist the hostile threats and cruelty.
According to the Javan daily, he added: The "Public Readiness of North Tehran Ashura Troops" extensive exercises will go on for a week from 16 Tir [6 July] with the participation of 6, 000 Basij members.
He said that the Basij troops involved in the exercises will use their training skills, organize forces, display their military and physical readiness and attend political and ideological classes to improve their military capabilities and religious beliefs.

Source: Javan, Tehran, in Persian 8 Jul 08

Iranian officials say Revolution Guards patrol Hormuz Straits routinely

Text of report by state-run Iranian Arabic-language television news channel Al-Alam on 7 January
The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Ali Hoseyni, has said that the interception of three US Navy warships by Iranian boats in Hormuz Strait's international waters was a routine matter. In an exclusive statement to Al-Alam TV, Hoseyni said similar operations had happened several times in the past and that the matter came to an end without any problems, after the two sides had recognized each other.
Meanwhile, an official of the Iranian Revolution Guard has said what happened was within the context of routine measures which the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps patrols have been carrying out in the Hormuz Strait for 20 years.

Source: Al-Alam TV, Tehran, in Arabic 2030 gmt 7 Jan 08

Iran Launches 'Quick Reaction' Tanks

Source: all_headline_news Reporter: Komfie Manalo

Location: Tehran, Iran Published: July 1, 2008 9:54 a.m. EST

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011469429
Iran's military on Tuesday announced it has launched a production line for superior "quick reaction" tanks as part of the region's effort for self-sufficiency in defense.
Colonel Nasser Arab-Beigi, head of Iran's Islamic Revolution Corps self-sufficiency unit, said the tank named "Tosan," was developed to upgrade the region's military equipment to become at par with the latest global technology.
He adds, the self-sufficiency unit is also trying to develop Iran's passive defense system to secure military sites. At the same time, he said the IRCG forces are conducting full surveillance of "enemy forces" in the Gulf and on Iranian borders.
Washington and its allies have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of civilian nuclear program, a charge Iran denies insisting its on-going uranium enrichment program is purely for peaceful purposes only.
Iran's revelation of its new tank as Washington on Monday refused to comment on reports that the U.S. Congress in 2007 approved a request by President George W. Bush of a $400 million budget to beef its covert operation against Iran's leadership.
White House spokesman Dana Perino told reporters in reaction to a report by the New York Times the Bush administration has increased efforts to undermine Iranian leadership, "I couldn't comment either way."
In its Sunday edition, the New York Times quoted former military, intelligence, and congressional sources saying that the Bush administration has increased its support for minority and dissidents in Iran and beefed up intelligence gathering on Tehran's nuclear activities.
While the Bush government says it wants to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis diplomatically, it also insists it is not taking all options off the table including military action.
An earlier NYT report says some military officials in the U.S. believed that a recent major military war games by the Israeli army was aimed at rehearsing for a possible bomb attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Former Guards commander says Iran capable of firing series of Sijjil missiles

Text of report in English by Iranian official government news agency IRNA website
Tehran, 23 November: Supreme leader's top adviser for the armed forces affairs, Major-General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, said on Sunday [23 November] that Iran is capable of firing a series of surface to surface Sijjil missiles.
The new generation of surface-to-surface missiles called Sijjil' has increased the defence capability of the Iranian armed forces in dealing with any threats, he said.
The two-stage missile uses combined solid fuel and has a high speed which enables the Iranian armed forces to fire a series of them simultaneously if needed, he said.
It is the legitimate right of every nation to gain access to advanced technologies to defend its territory, he said.
Some countries in the southern parts of Persian Gulf are among top purchasers of weapons in the world but Iran with reliance on its military experts has developed indigenous technology to defend itself against threats posed by the US and the Zionist regime, he said.

Source: Islamic Republic News Agency website, Tehran, in English 1310 gmt 23 Nov 08

Radio: Iran tests missile during naval maneuver

http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=14956

07/12/2008
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's state radio says the country's navy has test-fired a sea-to-sea missile during a six-day naval maneuver in the Sea of Oman.
Sunday's report quotes the maneuver's spokesman Adm. Ghasem Rostamabadi. He says the mid-range missile was launched from a battleship late Saturday in the waters off the port town of Chabahar near the Iran-Pakistan border.
The report did not elaborate on the range or give other details about the missile, dubbed Nasr-2 or Victory-2.
Iran said last week it launched the large-scale naval maneuver that was to cover 50,000-square miles (129,500-sq. kilometers) of Iranian territorial waters and involve about 60 warships.
Iran regularly holds war games in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

Iran warns it could close waterway vital to oil shipments

By Nazila Fathi

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/04/world/africa/04iht-iran.4.14996889.html

TEHRAN — Iran on Monday warned that it could close a waterway in the Gulf that is critical for oil shipments and announced that it was in possession of a new naval weapon that could sink enemy ships within a range of 300 kilometers.
It was unclear what had provoked the warnings, which were issued by the Revolutionary Guards. But the announcements came just after an informal deadline over the weekend, set by Western powers, for Iran to respond to incentives from world powers to curb its uranium-enrichment activities.
The United States, which has warships deployed in the Gulf, has said that new sanctions should be imposed on Iran for having failed to respond to the deadline.
The warning coincided with reports that the chief Iranian nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, had spoken by telephone Monday with the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana. Solana was expected to report back on the conversation to the representatives of the six countries - the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany - that are leading the demands that Iran stop enriching uranium, news agencies reported.
In comments carried by the semiofficial Iranian news agency Fars, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, head of the Revolutionary Guards, said that Iran was capable of imposing "unlimited controls" at the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, an important international oil route.
"Closing the Strait of Hormuz for an unlimited period of time would be very easy," he was quoted as saying.
Jafari gave no details about the type of naval weapon involved in the recent test, but he said it was Iranian-built and "unique in the world."
Jafari said it would have the range to reach warships in the Gulf, an apparent reference to U.S. ships that have been conducting naval maneuvers.
"The Guards have recently tested a naval weapon, which I can say with certainty that the enemy's ships would not be safe within the range of 300 kilometers," or about 185 miles, Jafari was quoted as saying. "Without any doubt we will send them to the depths of the sea."
Iran has made similar claims about its military capabilities in the past, but analysts have treated them with some skepticism.
Early last month, Iran announced it had test-fired a number of missiles in war-game maneuvers, including at least one that the government in Tehran described as having the range to reach Israel and another that it said was a relatively new torpedo called a Hoot missile (the name means whale in Iranian).
But Western military analysts said those war games featured more bluff and exaggeration than displays of real power and said the statements about the range of the largest missile were misleading.
The administration of President George W. Bush has refused to rule out a military option to tensions between Iran and the United States over Tehran's civilian nuclear program.
In June, the Israeli Air Force rehearsed what U.S. intelligence officials described as a possible strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Representatives of the six Western nations met with Iranian officials in Geneva on July 19, with a senior U.S. official taking part for the first time. The talks seemed to produce no progress on the chief demand - that Iran stop uranium enrichment - but the six powers gave Tehran two weeks to respond to their latest proposal before it would be withdrawn.
Specifically, the world powers wanted Iran to accept a formula known as freeze-for-freeze. Under this plan, Iran would not expand its nuclear program, and the United States and other powers would not seek new international sanctions for six weeks to pave the way for formal negotiations.
The proposal, first offered last year, was intended to give Iran economic and political incentives to stop enriching uranium.
Iran dismissed the deadline and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Saturday that Iran would not budge on its nuclear rights, though he said that his country welcomed talks.
"We will take part in any negotiations and talk about any issue which consolidates our nuclear rights," Ahmadinejad said during a meeting with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, according to the Iranian leader's Web site.
After Iran's failure to reply by the deadline over the weekend, the United States said Sunday that the United Nations Security Council now had no choice but to expand sanctions. The Security Council has imposed three sets of sanctions since 2006.
"It is clear that the government of Iran has not complied with the international community's demand to stop enriching uranium and isn't even interested in trying," said Richard Grenell, a spokesman for the U.S. mission to the United Nations, Reuters reported.
"They leave the Security Council no choice but to increase the sanctions, as called for in the last resolution passed," he added.

Roundup: Iran stages drills and keeps defiant on UN sanctions

UPDATED: 08:12, January 22, 2007

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200701/22/eng20070122_343434.html

Iran's leadership kept defiant on the UN Security Council sanction resolution and recent U.S. military pressure Sunday by launching a new round of war games and hardline verbalisms from top officials over Tehran's nuclear program.
The state-run television Sunday morning reported that the elite Revolutionary Guards would start from Sunday a three-day missile- test maneuvers near Garmsar city which locates about 100 km southeast of Tehran and near a desert.
"Zalzal and Fajr-5 missiles will be test fired in the war game, " an unnamed commander of the guards was quoted by the television as saying, noting that both are considered short-range missiles.
"The maneuver is aimed at evaluating defensive and fighting capabilities of the missiles," the commander added.
The drills are to be the first after the UN Security Council passed resolution 1737 last December, calling on Tehran to suspend its enrichment activities and imposing sanctions on Iran's nuclear and missile program.
The war game came against the backdrop that the United States deployed its second aircraft carrier, the USS John C. Stennis to the Gulf Region recently.
The U.S. military officials has said that this move was a warning for Iran not to intervene Iraq's internal affairs, saying Tehran's leadership should understand that U.S. military capability has not been weakened by four-year long war in Iraq.
Some Western and Arabic media reports have disclosed that the U. S. government had decided to lunch attack against Iran's nuclear sites from the sea before this April and would deploy PAC-3 anti- aircraft missile systems in Arab countries, but U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and White House have denied the rumors, saying the U.S. currently has no intention to attack Iran.
Echoing the maneuvers, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that imposing pressures and sanctions on the Islamic Republic would be fruitless, keeping defiant on the UN sanctions.
Ahmadinejad made the remarks when he submitted his government's annual budget bill for the new year to the Majlis(Parliament).
"Sanctions are viewed as an old fashion, rusty and inefficient weapon today...the resolution(1737) was delivered dead. Even ten more similar resolutions can not affect our economy and our policy, " he asserted.
Referring to the U.S. attacking rumor, the president termed it as a psychological war, saying "They say war is coming. What war? It is all propaganda."
Ahmadinejad has said Thursday that his country was ready for any threat over the nuclear program, stressing "Iran is ready for anything on this path, we are intending to fulfill the nuclear project with the least expense".
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, on the sidelines of accompanying President Ahmadinejad, said "Iran's nuclear rights are not negotiable and resolutions which deprive our country of its recognized rights lack credibility from our point of view".
Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Sunday also reiterated that Tehran had not changed its nuclear stances and was still pursuing the same goals.
"The official stance of the ruling system in the nuclear issue is the result of contemplation, discussion and a consensus gained at the country's Supreme National Security Council, thus, the country's nuclear stance is supported by all," he was quoted by the local Fars news agency as saying.
Stressing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was informed of all Iran's nuclear activities, the spokesman said "we do not accept suspension of the nuclear activities because such a demand lacks legality and rationality".
Source: Xinhua

Iran fires more missiles in war games

July 11, 2008

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/iran-fires-more-missiles-in-war-games/2008/07/11/1215658075619.html?page=2

Iran test-fired more weaponry today as it continued war games, ignoring global concern over its launch of a broadside of missiles amid efforts to end the crisis over its nuclear program.
The weapons fired in the Gulf by the naval section of the Revolutionary Guards included shore-to-sea, surface-to-surface and sea-to-air missiles, state television said. No details were given on the names of the missiles.
It said the war games also included firing the Hoot (Whale) torpedo that Iran unveiled in April 2006 and which it says is a super-fast weapon capable of hitting enemy submarines.
Iran on Wednesday test-fired its Shahab-3 long-range missile, which the Islamic republic says can reach Israel and US bases in the Gulf, and eight other more medium-range missiles.
The move sparked major concern in Western governments which say they fear Iran's nuclear drive is aimed at making atomic weapons, a charge that Tehran vehemently denies.
In a separate land exercise late on Wednesday, the military also fired "longer and medium range missiles," state television said, showing several missiles being fired into the night sky.
Footage was also broadcast of the naval manoeuvres, showing divers fixing mines to a pier, missiles being fired from shore-based mobile launchers and the Hoot speeding towards a target.
Washington and its regional ally Israel have never ruled out military action against Iranian atomic facilities, while Tehran has warned of a fierce response if it is attacked.
"Iran rejects the international demand to halt the enrichment of uranium and the world must respond accordingly - by increasing and intensifying the sanctions against Iran," Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Thursday.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak told Israeli public radio Iran represented a challenge for the whole world.
"Israel is the strongest country in the region and we have already shown in the past that we are not afraid of acting when our vital interests are threatened," he added.