Iran said Monday it had tested a new air defence system to
counter missiles and aircraft during large-scale military exercises
throughout the country, state-run television reported.
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"The upgraded missiles successfully destroyed the presumed enemies'
missiles in low altitude simultaneously in several points," said
General Amir Amini, deputy commander of Iran's Air Force.
The television footage showed at least four surface-to-air
missiles being fired from mobile launching pads. The report did not
say if the missile is equipped with a guidance system.
During maneuvers dubbed "The Blow of Zolfaghar," which began in
August 19, Iran test fired short range surface-to-surface and
sub-to-surface missiles.
Iran's military test-fired a series of missiles during
large-scale war games in the Persian Gulf in March and April,
including a missile it claimed was not detectable by radar that can
use multiple warheads to hit several targets simultaneously.
After decades of relying on foreign weapons purchases, Iran now
says it is increasingly self-sufficient in its military equipment
claiming it annually exports more than US$100 million worth of
military equipment to more than 50 countries.
Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel
carriers, missiles and a fighter plane, the government has said. It
announced in early 2005 that it had begun production of
torpedoes.
Teheran hails Annan visit
Iran Monday hailed a visit by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan as
positive and accused the United States of sabotaging efforts to
resolve its nuclear dispute with the West.
"Our evaluation is that it was good, suitable and positive. In
the nuclear field, the discussions were fair. Both sides supported
negotiations for achieving a solution," government spokesman Gholam
Hossein Elham told a press conference, referring to Annan's
visit.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during his talks Sunday
with Annan refused Western demands to halt uranium enrichment
activities before talks over its nuclear program.
But the Iranian Government Monday insisted that a hardline US
stance was to blame for the impasse. "There is a good trend over
the nuclear issue and some countries and powers like the US want to
turn the logical trend into illogical one," Elham said.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Monday he
was skeptical of the chances of success at an upcoming meeting
between the European Union's foreign policy chief and Iran's top
nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.
"We must remain skeptical that this will work," Steinmeier said
at a meeting of Germany's foreign ambassadors. "If not, the road to
the UN Security Council will be unavoidable."
Steinmeier said he was skeptical because Teheran's rejection of
the package of economic incentives appeared final.
(China Daily September 5, 2006)
