Iran reports: War games showed missile accuracy

In this Tuesday, July 3, 2012 file photo released by the Iranian Fars News Agency, a surface-to-surface missile is launched during the Iranian Revolutionary Guards maneuver in an undisclosed location in Iran. / Hamed Jafarnejad,AP Photo/Fars News Agency, File

(AP) TEHRAN, Iran - War games this month showcased missiles with improved accuracy and firing capabilities, Iranian media reports said Friday, an apparent response to stepped up Western moves against Iran's nuclear program.

Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards conducted the exercise in the central desert, firing ballistic missiles including a long-range variety meant to deter an Israeli or U.S. attack. The targets were models of foreign military bases, and the stated goal was to show that Iran's missiles can hit Western bases and Israel.

The U.N. Security Council has imposed several rounds of economic sanctions on Iran, aimed at persuading Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program. The sanctions have hit Iran's economy, but its leaders have refused to scale down the nuclear program.

In the latest step, The European Union put a ban against purchase of Iranian oil in force on July 1. EU purchases accounted for 18 percent of Iran's oil exports.

U.S. piles more sanctions on Iran
Iran tests missiles, renews Hormuz closure threat as EU oil embargo kicks in
Iran seeks "win-win" on nuke talks

Several Iranian news websites reported Friday that 90 percent of the missiles hit their targets and said this showed their increased accuracy.

Another achievement, the reports said, was Iran's capability of firing multiple missiles within seconds. The media reports said this would create a challenge for the U.S. or Israel to intercept incoming missiles should a war break out.

Iran has a variety of missiles. including a Shahab-3 variant with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) that can reach Israel and southern Europe. The missiles, which can carry a nuclear warhead, are also capable of hitting U.S. bases in the region.

Some of the missiles used during the war games used solid fuel, the reports said, improving the accuracy of the missiles.

The elite Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Division is in charge of Iran's missile program.

"Within 10 minutes, a considerable number of missile were fired at a single target. The achievement, called high firing density, makes it impossible for anti-missile systems to intercept and destroy them. In the end, the target is definitely hit," said a report on irannuc.ir.

Iranian news media are tightly controlled by the regime.

The Pentagon released a report June 29 noting significant advances in Iranian missile technology. The report was prepared before the latest Iranian missile tests.

The report to Congress, signed by U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, acknowledged that Iran has improved the accuracy and power of its missiles. Up to now, U.S. reports have downplayed the accuracy and effectiveness of Iran's missiles.

Iranian lawmaker Ismaeil Kowsari, a former Revolutionary Guard commander, said Iran has upgraded its missile deterrence.

"Our missiles are more accurate and lethal than ever," Kowsari told The Associated Press on Friday. "These achievements send clear signals to the West that Iran is a formidable force, making enemies think twice before making any decision to attack us."

Iran's Revolutionary Guard commanders said during the war games that the tests were a "response to the political impoliteness of those who talk about all options being on the table."

That was a reference to U.S. and Israeli hints of a military attack if diplomacy fails to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, aimed at producing electric power and radioisotopes to treat cancer patients.

The commander of the Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Division, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, threatened earlier this month that Israel would disappear from the Earth if it attacks Iran. Israel considers Iran a dangerous enemy because of its nuclear and missile programs, support for violent anti-Israel groups and frequent references by its leaders to Israel's destruction.

Hajizadeh also warned that 35 American military bases in the Middle East are within Iran's missile range and would be destroyed within seconds after any U.S. attack on Iran.

[rodgerthatjohn]

its amazing how much money is spent for defense...i know that to try and cut back on the cost of training some police departments, and government agencies are looking at airsoft guns to minimize the cost for training somewhat. i play airsoft and get my guns from airsplat.com and boy its fun especially if you are into call of duty.

[jglkj89]

As early as 26 June 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru, soon to be India's first Prime Minister, announced:

" As long as the world is constituted as it is, every country will have to devise and use the latest devices for its protection. I have no doubt India will develop her scientific researches and I hope Indian scientists will use the atomic force for constructive purposes. But if India is threatened, she will inevitably try to defend herself by all means at her disposal".

AN INALIEANBLE RIGHT is a right that cannot be taken away, denied, or transferred. Each country, not a member of NPT has the INALIEANBLE RIGHT to develop nuclear weapons such India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel.

A member of NPT will not produce nuclear weapons such Iran and Syria, but still have the INALIEANBLE RIGHT to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Uranium enrichment is part of develop research, production of nuclear energy. The treaty DOESN'T FORBID Uranium enrichment .

Article IV of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
1. Nothing in this Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting the INALIENABLE RIGHT of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II of this Treaty. 2. All the Parties to the Treaty undertake to facilitate, and have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Parties to the Treaty in a position to do so shall also co-operate in contributing alone or together with other States or international organizations to the further development of the applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially in the territories of non-nuclear-weapon States Party to the Treaty, with due consideration for the needs of the developing areas of the world.

Article X. Establishes the right to withdraw from the Treaty giving 3 months' notice. It also establishes the duration of the Treaty (25 years before 1995 Extension Initiative).


UN CHARTER VII ARTICLE 51:
Provides for the right of countries to engage in military action in self-defense, including collective self-defense (i.e. under an alliance) FOR SYRIA AND IRAN IF ATTACKED.


NPT IS ACTUALLY FOOLISH FOR THE MEMBER STATES. A MEMBER OF NPT IS DEFENSELESS TO ATTACKS/INTERVENTIONS SUCH AS IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, LIBYA AND YEMEN.(SYRIA IS IN PROCESS AND IRAN IS NEXT)

[ericbenetii]

Each country has a right to murder millions of men, women and children by developing weapons of mass destruction? is that really what you're trying to defend? Just as in the cold war, nuclear parity would make sense for Iran if its enemies were trying to increase their arsenal and demonstrate the intent to use it, but members of the "nuclear club" have done the exact opposite, reducing its numbers and refraining from using WMD even in the boldface aggression by Iran, Syria and Hezbollah ongoing daily against innocent civilians. Instead of acting aggressively, these countries should focus on increasing mutual trust among its neighbors so that they can expand their options for improving the economic and social development of its populace - signing NPT is one means of doing that. Countries like Iran and North Korea should follow words of Iran's supreme leader and look at nuclear weapons as evil instead of enriching uranium beyond what is actually needed for nuclear power plants - that is the real contention of nuclear states, not preventing all enrichment as you're suggesting. Further, these countries already have formidable conventional weapons - enough to inflict the equivalent of nuclear weapons (an explosion is an explosion afterall), plenty of destruction and mayhem on an adversary and thus far from "defenseless".

[rharrin1]

About as strong as Iraqs revolutionary guard.

[formerlyluvnut]

Whoop dee doo.

[RED_FIVE]

Add the fact that another entity most likely sold Iran the newest s300p anti aircraft defense system then add there newly acquired ability to monitor web and Land/cellphone communications Iran is looking tougher than ever. Seems politicians underestimate there resilience. Our aircraft carriers seem like sitting ducks out there waiting to be sacrificed by our overzealous politicians.

[uas123]

PLEASE stop calling them "powerful or elite" Republican Guards. The AP is supposed to be a reputable news source. Iraq had the same so called elite forces. I have a hunch you will see very shortly the elite Army Rangers, Navy Seals etc....