Post by FaithWalker on Aug 4, 2008 6:50:22 GMT -6
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran tested a new weapon for use at sea and says it can "easily" close a major oil passageway, the chief of the country's elite Revolutionary Guards was quoted Monday as saying by the official IRNA news agency.
The commander, Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, claimed the new marine weapon is "unique in the world" and has a range of 300 kilometers (186 miles).
The report provided no further details and didn't say when or where the weapon was tested, but it quoted Jafari as saying that there is "no similar weapon in the service of armies in the world." The alleged new weapon's range indicated it may be some type of torpedo.
The Revolutionary Guards chief said Iran would easily be able to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route, if the country were attacked over its nuclear program.
Iran has "the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz easily and on an unlimited basis", Revolutionary Guards commander-in-chief Mohammad Ali Jafari said, according to state radio.
Iran and the West are locked in a standoff on the country's disputed uranium enrichment program, which the U.S. and its allies fear is aimed at making nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge and says the program is only for producing electricity.
Both the U.S. and Israel have said they would prefer a diplomatic solution to the standoff, but have not ruled out other options, including a military one.
To show their readiness to defend, the Guards test fired missiles and torpedoes in the Persian Gulf last month, and Tehran claimed it tested a new Shahab missile with a range of 1,250 miles.
In case of a possible strike on Iran, Jafari said the country will respond in every way it can. The enemy, he said, would prefer to make the duration of the war as short as possible.
But, "we will prolong it," Jafari said.
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The commander, Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, claimed the new marine weapon is "unique in the world" and has a range of 300 kilometers (186 miles).
The report provided no further details and didn't say when or where the weapon was tested, but it quoted Jafari as saying that there is "no similar weapon in the service of armies in the world." The alleged new weapon's range indicated it may be some type of torpedo.
The Revolutionary Guards chief said Iran would easily be able to close the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route, if the country were attacked over its nuclear program.
Iran has "the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz easily and on an unlimited basis", Revolutionary Guards commander-in-chief Mohammad Ali Jafari said, according to state radio.
Iran and the West are locked in a standoff on the country's disputed uranium enrichment program, which the U.S. and its allies fear is aimed at making nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge and says the program is only for producing electricity.
Both the U.S. and Israel have said they would prefer a diplomatic solution to the standoff, but have not ruled out other options, including a military one.
To show their readiness to defend, the Guards test fired missiles and torpedoes in the Persian Gulf last month, and Tehran claimed it tested a new Shahab missile with a range of 1,250 miles.
In case of a possible strike on Iran, Jafari said the country will respond in every way it can. The enemy, he said, would prefer to make the duration of the war as short as possible.
But, "we will prolong it," Jafari said.
Link