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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran plans to upgrade missiles, untroubled by sanctions threat |
| 2016-02-05 |
| [IsraelTimes] Chief of staff says improved weaponry will serve as deterrent 'against enemies' The commander-in-chief of Iran's army disclosed on Thursday plans for an upgraded missile program and brushed off the threat of new sanctions. "Iran's future missile program will become more precise and stronger, and these are deterrent weapons that pose no threat to our neighbors and friends, but are against enemies," the Iranian Tasneem agency quoted Major General Ataollah Salehi as saying. Ballistic missile tests by Iran were prohibited under Security Council resolution 1929, which was passed five years ago and remained valid until July's nuclear deal went into effect January 16. Since then, in line with another Security Council resolution passed immediately after the nuclear deal, Iran is "called upon" to refrain for up to eight years from any work on ballistic missiles designed to carry nuclear weapons. Iran has been repeatedly accused of breaching the terms of the previous and current resolutions. It has maintained that its missile program is for defensive purposes only and thus is not bound by the restrictions. Last month, the US warned Iran regarding a series of missile tests which it said violated the terms of previous agreements including the nuclear deal, and said they could result in fresh sanctions on the Islamic Theocratic Republic. Washington has since said that plans for new sanctions are on hold. Addressing the threats of renewed sanctions due to missile development, Salehi was defiant, saying that the Islamic Theocratic Republicwould not abide by any such resolutions and they were of no concern to his military. Last month, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps had rebuffed US threats, saying that Iran would "keep producing missiles for as long as the United States supports Israel" and that it has so many missile it "doesn't know where to put them." Iran says it has ballistic missiles with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), which are capable of striking Israel -- which it refers to as the "lesser Satan," with the United States being the "great Satan." Threatening Israel with complete destruction is a common theme in statements by Iranian leaders and military officials, though they are usually careful to note that such a move would only be in a "defensive" context. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #2 OWG Co-Superpower USA will let its OWG Co-Superpower sibling Iran have its Nukes + Missles. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2016-02-05 22:40 |
| #1 untroubled by sanctions threat As called by RB and Bibi. |
| Posted by: gorb 2016-02-05 09:51 |