Iran approves 'Strategic Missile'

[Guest Lottie]

Iran has confirmed that it successfully test-fired what it calls a "strategic missile" during recent military exercises.

Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani told Iranian state media that following the test, the missiles had now been delivered to the armed forces.

He did not name the missile or give details of its range.

The announcement comes amid tensions over Iran's nuclear programme, which it insists is for peaceful purposes.

Power and range

"This strategic missile was successfully test-fired during... military exercises by the Revolutionary Guards and delivered to the armed forces," Mr Shamkhani said.

He was quoted by Iran's student news agency, Isna, as saying that it was better than another unspecified missile for four reasons - it was more powerful, more accurate, faster and had a longer range.

The French AFP news agency said it was not clear whether or not the minister was talking about an improved version of the Shahab-3 medium-range missile, which it said had been tested in August.

It said the Shahab-3 was based on a North Korean design and had a range of 800 miles (1,300km).

Iran's resolve

The week-long exercises began on 12 September near the country's border with Iraq.

Military officials said it was intended to demonstrate Iran's resolve to defend itself against "big powers."

Iran on Thursday warned Israel it would react "most severely" if Israel used force to try to destroy its nuclear facilities.

Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi was responding to reports that the United States is to sell Israel hundreds of "bunker-busting" bombs.

Earlier in the month, Iran's Revolutionary Guards staged military exercises near the country's border with Iraq.

Source

[Thanato]

And they said Iraq was a "threat" lol

~Thanato

[Mishari]

Exactly, now do you ppl see that there was NO Point for the War over Iraq, it was all for one reason and that is the Oil. I mean why else would they want to invade Iraq?? to free the iraqi ppl from Saddam? Bull!!!

[Talon]

Exactly, now do you ppl see that there was NO Point for the War over Iraq

You say that as if that issue has never been raised before. You are aware many westerns don't actually support the war arn't you?

[Mishari]

Of course i do but some still think what Bush did was totally right and those ppl are as dumb as Bush in politics.

[Talon]

.... well... as much as I agree with that, I think you shouldn't actually call them stupid or idiots in the thread, it turns a point of view into an insult. No matter how ill informed on an issue we beleive someone else to be, we should always try and show respect to others

[Homer]

Exactly, now do you ppl see that there was NO Point for the War over Iraq, it was all for one reason and that is the Oil. I mean why else would they want to invade Iraq?? to free the iraqi ppl from Saddam? Bull!!!

How does oil being the main reason of the Iraqi war relate to Iran's military capabilities? It's clear you disagree with the Iraqi war, but let's stay on topic. How do you feel about Iran, and what should your country do about it?

[AztecInca]

Before anyone goes barging into Iran with there military, we should all unite in the UN if possible or just plain unite as we all should and use all the diplomatic means possible to pressure Iran into allowing weapons insepcetors in and into stop acting aggresively with weapons testing and a possible nuclear arsenal.

I dont think any countries are reallt even considering this because of the possible consequences but after Iraq who knows what could happen, let shope the situation cools down considerably and we can sort everything out by diplomatic means!

[Stellar]

Aztec: Diplomacy with Iran has been tried. It failed. They agreed to stop enriching Uranium, but kept doing it secretly.

[AztecInca]

I know, just that that I really really wnat diplomacy to work for once, so all these lives can be spared.

But if they do create nuclear weapons and intend to use them, than I dont see any other way than through militray action to stop them.

You really have to wonder about the world when diplomacy fails time and time again, its just so sad and frightening!

[bathory]

Exactly, now do you ppl see that there was NO Point for the War over Iraq, it was all for one reason and that is the Oil. I mean why else would they want to invade Iraq?? to free the iraqi ppl from Saddam? Bull!!!

or maybe iraq is part of a greater plan, you do realise that Iran is completely encircled by US and allied troops? I would have though you'd be aware of the geography...

so lets see

Coalition troops in Turkey and Iraq on the West

Pakistan and Afghanistan on the east

now do you guys understand all this sabre rattling from Iran?

now heres my little theory

on top of all the reasons cited by the administration for invasion, i also believe Oil played a role in it as well, but not in the sense that Bush and Cheney can all get rich like most of you people believe, I think opening up Iraqs oil supplies is an attempt to lessen Saudi influence in the west, so if/when the US is ready to take out Iran's fun little regime, the Saudis can't cripple the west in protest

freeing the iraqi people is part of it, removing Saddam before he can amount to a major threat was part of it, things are way way way more complicated than the whole "Bush = greedy Idiot" arguement.

I just don't accept that they would go to all this trouble for oil when they could have just as easily kissed and made up with Saddam, removed sanctions and everyone gone on their merry way.

[Talon]

or maybe iraq is part of a greater plan, you do realise that Iran is completely encircled by US and allied troops?

Yeah, I'd already noticed But I don't beleive that Bush is smart enough to think that far forward ... then again... the oil companies pulling his strings will be

[zephyr]

Just like any other country, Iran has the natural right to defend herself! This right is independent of the type of regime in power in Tehran ( the Shah had organised a powerful army too)! To exercise this right is vital for the security of a nation that was attacked suddenly by chemical and conventional weapons (would have been attacked by nuclear weapons, had Israel not taken out Iraq's facilities in the early days of the war), weapons which were provided by the civilized and democratic nations of the western world to a monster called Saddam, who was cheered on by them and some of her arab neighbours, that were later attacked themselves! Their logic was simple and of course extremely near sighted: who cares about Iranian school kids being bombed by French made Mirage planes and Soviet made missiles in their classrooms; who cares about Kurdish villagers being sprayed by German made chemical weapons, as long as it stays over there, of course; and anyway it is okay for them to die in their classrooms because we just don't like the regime in Tehran. Iran is currently under threat by some of her neighbours who have claims over parts of her territory! No regime in Tehran can really afford to overlook or take lightly the security needs of 70 million people who live in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods on earth!

Whom would you trust if you were an Iranian?

[Stellar]

I have no problem with Iran creating strategic missiles. Why would I? Its like saying "OMG!!! Iran built another tank! OMG THEY'RE EVIL!!!"

What I do have problems with, is Iran getting nuclear weapons.

About the war... You've got to realise that Iraq is a place of strategic importance. If the US was planning to invade 2 or more countries... lets say, Iraq, Iran and I dunno, Syria, why not wipe out the weakest of the 3 first, all the while securing its oil? Thats what I would do.

[Mishari]

So what if Iran has nuclear weapons??? So does the US, UK, France, Germany, India, Pakistain, China, Russia and Israel. But all these countries are very strong allies with US. That's why US is thinking and making Iran look bad because they are making Nuclear Weapons, so what if they got them?? It doesn't make them Evil, just advanced with weapons like any other rich country out there.

[Talon]

Because so far these countries have not used them (with the exception of the US), however the more states that have them the more likely they are to used. Pakistan for example, just recently said that if there was a war with India it will use Nukes within two weeks. We should heading to less nukes in the world not more.

And Germany doesn’t have nukes.

[Mishari]

But having them doesn't make them Evil, it is a country's decision to see if they want to have nukes or not. US doesn't have to stick it's nose in everything just because Iran is not an allie.

[Talon]

I must admit I trust the European and North American nations to use them responsibly (that being never) than I do any of the Asian ones.

[Mishari]

But Still it doesn't mean that Iran shouldn't have them at all.

[Talon]

I repeat, no country should have them.

[Stellar]

People think that having nuclear weapons is a right. I think the one primary goal of the UN should be to make sure no more countries get nukes! The more nuclear capable countries, the more dangerous it is.

Also, Iran sponsors terrorism...

[Mishari]

You have no proof of that at all.

[Talon]

What about the fact most of the terrorists in Iraq right now are flooding in from Iran?

[Stellar]

Umm, sponsoring hazbollah(sp?) isnt a well known fact?

[JAZ76US]

Well, I am not sure if this is true or not. I was driving home after working the night shift and heard on the radio that Israel was purchasing a couple thousand bombs from the United States. They talked about how Iraq had a nuclear facilitie and Israel bombed it back in the early 80's. 500 hundred of those bombs being bought are bunker busting bombs and they are waiting till after the election to buy them. It was on the apr or mpr radio network. Just caught the tail end of the news report. So not really sure of all the details and I could be wrong so just putting in my 2 cents .