Iran test-fires new ballistic missile during War Games in Hormuz
Tehran’s new show of force could lead to an intervention by US Fifth Fleet. Tehran threatens to choke the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the transit of oil if new sanctions are imposed because of its nuclear programme.
Tehran (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Iran's navy says it has test-fired a long-range cruise missile with stealth technology. The ‘Ghader’ (capable in Farsi) is an upgraded version of an existing missile that had a range of 200 kilometres (125 miles) and could travel at low altitudes.
Admiral Mahmoud Moussavi said that it was the first time the missile had been tested and that it had "successfully hit its target and destroyed it." The missile is said to be entirely built by Iran based on Chinese-made technology.
The Ghader is an ultra-modern missile with an integrated, ultra-precise radar with range and intelligent anti-detection system. The Iranian Navy was to test two other types of missiles later today.
This comes just days after Tehran unveiled its first domestically produced nuclear fuel rod, which the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation confirmed on its website. "After going through physical checks, it was inserted into the core of the Tehran research reactor in order to study how well it works," the statement said.
Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi had announced plans to begin using domestically produced fuel rods in February.
Iran is under international sanctions because of possible weaponisation of nuclear technology.
In reaction to tougher sanctions, Tehran said it would close down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for 40 per cent of world’s tanker-borne oil (see “Paul Dakiki, “Rising tensions with Tehran could lead to war,” in AsiaNews, 29 December 2011).
Iranian Vice Admiral Mohammad Reza Rahimi vowed last Tuesday that "not a drop of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz" if more Western sanctions are imposed on Iran. The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet said it would not tolerate any closing of the strait.
Analysts said that the missile tests are part of a military and diplomatic tug-of-war. Iran is concerned that further sanctions might target its oil exports. Iran is the second largest oil producers in the world after Saudi Arabia and crude sales represent about 80 per cent of its public revenues.
Admiral Mahmoud Moussavi said that it was the first time the missile had been tested and that it had "successfully hit its target and destroyed it." The missile is said to be entirely built by Iran based on Chinese-made technology.
The Ghader is an ultra-modern missile with an integrated, ultra-precise radar with range and intelligent anti-detection system. The Iranian Navy was to test two other types of missiles later today.
This comes just days after Tehran unveiled its first domestically produced nuclear fuel rod, which the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation confirmed on its website. "After going through physical checks, it was inserted into the core of the Tehran research reactor in order to study how well it works," the statement said.
Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi had announced plans to begin using domestically produced fuel rods in February.
Iran is under international sanctions because of possible weaponisation of nuclear technology.
In reaction to tougher sanctions, Tehran said it would close down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for 40 per cent of world’s tanker-borne oil (see “Paul Dakiki, “Rising tensions with Tehran could lead to war,” in AsiaNews, 29 December 2011).
Iranian Vice Admiral Mohammad Reza Rahimi vowed last Tuesday that "not a drop of oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz" if more Western sanctions are imposed on Iran. The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet said it would not tolerate any closing of the strait.
Analysts said that the missile tests are part of a military and diplomatic tug-of-war. Iran is concerned that further sanctions might target its oil exports. Iran is the second largest oil producers in the world after Saudi Arabia and crude sales represent about 80 per cent of its public revenues.
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