|
19 May 2009 Iran's
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei accused
the United States on Tuesday of promoting terrorism in
border areas and using arms and money against the
Islamic Republic.
Sayyed Khamenei was peaking during a televised speech
in a western region close to Iraq where security
forces often clash with Kurdish separatist rebels.
"I say this firmly that unfortunately across our
borders, our western borders, the Americans are busy
making a conspiracy, they are busy fostering
terrorism," his eminence said, referring to the US
presence in Iraq, Iran's western neighbor.
"Money, arms and organization ... are being used by
the Americans directly across our western borders in
order to fight the Islamic Republic's system. We
should be awake," Sayyed Khamenei said during a visit
to Iran's Kurdistan province.
His eminence spoke a day after Obama said he wanted to
see serious progress on his diplomatic initiative
toward Iran by the end of the year. Obama also held
out the prospect of tougher sanctions against Tehran
"to ensure that Iran understands we are serious."
Sayyed Khamenei on Monday urged Iranians to support
anti-Western candidates. "Do not let those who would
... surrender to enemies (the West) and harm our
nation's prestige to get into office," his eminence
said in a televised speech in the western city of
Bijar.
In Tuesday's speech in Kurdistan, Sayyed Khamenei said
the United States had "dangerous plans" for
Kurdish-populated areas. "Anywhere they (the
Americans) can, they stretch their hands in order to
put their contemptible and bloody claws into the body
of the Kurdish people," his eminence concluded.
Iran to Mass produce Long-Range
Missiles: Report
Iran is in the midst
of a multi-year plan that it hopes will culminate in
the production of several hundred missile launchers
and over 1,000 long-range ballistic missiles within
the next six years, according to estimates in the
Israeli defense establishment.
Tehran is believed to currently have an arsenal of
100-200 long-range Shihab missiles that have a range
of up to 2,000 kilometers and carry up to one-ton
warheads.
In addition, the Iranians last year test-fired a
missile called Ashura believed to have recently
entered production, the goal being to eventually
replace the Shihab.
The Ashura is a solid-fuel missile, giving it a long
shelf-life. Unlike the Shihab, it does not need to be
fueled shortly before launching.
According to Israeli estimates, Iran's plan is to
obtain 500 missile launchers and over 1,000 missiles
with a range of 2,500 km. by 2015.
"The Iranians are making great efforts to obtain a
significant number of missiles," said Tal Inbar, head
of the Space Research Center at the Fisher Brothers
Institute in Herzliya. "They already talk about how
one of the ways they will overcome the missile defense
systems is by firing salvos of missiles."
According to estimates in Israel, Russia is still
considering supplying the S-300 air defense system to
Iran but is waiting to see what happens with the
dialogue that the United States plans to hold with
Iran.
Depending on the outcome of the dialogue and the
status of relations between Washington and Moscow at
the time, Russia will decide whether it will supply
the system to Iran.
The S-300 is one of the most advanced multi-target
anti-aircraft-missile systems in the world, with a
reported ability to track up to 100 targets
simultaneously while engaging up to 12 at the same
time. It has a range of about 200 kilometers and can
hit targets at altitudes of 90,000 feet.
On Monday, the IAF will hold a countrywide exercise.
The exercise will include the IAF's reserve forces and
the public, should not be alarmed if it hears sirens
and notices increased activity in Israel's skies, the
army said.
EsinIslam.Com
|
Save
Add Comments To This Story