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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Iran will respond strongly to any hostile action in Persian Gulf

2005-01-07

TEHRAN (MNA) -- Iranian Navy commander Rear Admiral Abbas Mohtaj on Thursday dismissed a report that Israeli submarines had entered the Persian Gulf to attack the Bushehr nuclear power plant, asserting that Iran would deliver a strong response to any hostile action in the Persian Gulf. "Anyone who wishes to do an evil act in the Persian Gulf will receive a resolute and forceful response from us," the rear admiral told the Mehr News Agency.

Mohtaj said reports that Israeli Dolphin submarines have entered the Persian Gulf to target the Bushehr power plant with harpoon missiles are part of the psychological warfare program being waged against Iran by the Zionist media.
"Such a plan may have been tentatively proposed, but it would not be practicable in the operational stage. "Today, the Naval Forces have full control over all surface ships and submarines which enter the Persian Gulf waters."
On the recent decision by the National Geographic Society to use an unacceptable name for the "Persian Gulf", he stated that the idea of changing the name of the Persian Gulf is also part of the psychological warfare program orchestrated by the U.S. that is meant to sow discord among Persian Gulf littoral states because there would be no room for the U.S. to rampage through the Persian Gulf if regional countries united. Mohtaj added that a new map has recently been published in Afghanistan claiming that some cities in northwestern Iran belong to Afghanistan.

Oops, released that map a little early

Posted by:Steve

#11 If I read the esteemed Ken Pollack's analysis right, RADM Mohtaj may be more a political hard-liner than a military leader:

After [generally apolitical Rear Admiral 'Ali] Shamkhani was made Defense Minister [in August 1997] the regime chose not to have one man succeed to both of his former posts, thus Iran again has separate commanders for each of its naval forces. Tehran chose Rear Admiral Abbas Mohtaj to head the regular Navy and appointed Brigadier General 'Ali Akbar Ahmadian as commander of the IRGC Navy.

... Mohtaj had been Shamkhani's deputy in the regular Navy, and when Shamkhani was out of the country he had served as acting commander of both forces. Unlike Shamkhani, Mohtaj was a vocal supporter of confrontation with the West and export of the Iranian revolution. Thus it is significant that Mohtaj was not rewarded with Shamkhani's job. It suggests that a decision was made to eliminate the post of combined-navies commander because it was too powerful bureaucratically...Khatami may have prevented Mohtaj's elevation to combined-navies chief to limit Mohtaj's ability to interfere with his intended reforms.

Posted by: Pappy 2005-01-07 11:16:03 PM

#10 Bring it, assholes.

The navy's been looking for some entertainment.

Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-01-07 10:18:22 PM

#9 Is respond strongly some kind of code word for "die in large numbers?

As for the Harpoons, there is a version called SLAM - Stand-off Land Attack Missile. Basically, a Harpoon with GPS and some other goodies from the Walleye and Maverick.

Posted by: SteveS 2005-01-07 9:36:08 PM

#8 please, oh, PLEASE take a silkworm potshot!?!?!? Pretty, please??!?!

Posted by: anymouse 2005-01-07 7:07:41 PM

#7 Harpoon missles can not target land targets. Infact they go goofy if the overfly land.

Yeah! That was fixed with a patch. Everbody knows you load up with Mavericks for serious standoff mission.

Oh! Real life. Hmmmmm......

Posted by: Shipman 2005-01-07 5:52:18 PM

#6 "You guys would sure walk funny with one 'o them Chinese Silkworm missles rammed up yer patooties..."

Posted by: mojo 2005-01-07 5:18:55 PM

#5 Harpoon missles can not target land targets. Infact they go goofy if the overfly land.

Dumbasses.

Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2005-01-07 5:06:25 PM

#4 âToday, the Naval Forces have full control over all surface ships and submarines which enter the Persian Gulf waters.â

So... which carrier group(s) (or even patrol boats) do we have in the Gulf which are under 'full control' of the mad mullahs?

Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-01-07 5:00:37 PM

#3 "Iran will respond strongly to any hostile action in Persian Gulf"

Hey Mahmood, Did we get that shipment of kevlar towels?

Posted by: Poison Reverse 2005-01-07 4:45:25 PM

#2 I think I've seen this movie before.
And it didn't work out too well for the Iranian navy as I remember.

Posted by: tu3031 2005-01-07 4:35:25 PM

#1 "Mohtaj added that a new map has recently been published in Afghanistan claiming that some cities in northwestern Iran belong to Afghanistan."

Isn't that the same logic used by Saddam with respect to Kuwait? Very interesting........

Posted by: Captain America 2005-01-07 4:31:40 PM

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