[pnews-news] Iran Test-Fired Underwater Missile

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http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/03/world/middleeast/03iran.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Iran Says It Test-Fired Underwater Missile
By NAZILA FATHI
Published: April 3, 2006

TEHRAN, April 2 ? Iran said Sunday that it had test-fired what it 
described as a sonar-evading underwater missile just two days after it 
announced that it had fired a new missile that could carry multiple 
warheads and evade radar systems. The new missile is among the world's 
fastest and can outpace an enemy warship, Gen. Ali Fadavi of the country's 
elite Revolutionary Guards told state television.

General Fadavi said only one other country, Russia, had a missile that 
moved underwater as fast as the Iranian one, which he said had a speed of 
about 225 miles per hour. State television showed what it described as the 
missile being fired. "The missile carries a very powerful warhead that 
enables it to operate against groups of warships and big submarines," he 
said. He contended that the boats that would launch the missile were able 
to evade detection systems but that "even if an enemy's warship sonar can 
detect the missile, no warship can escape from this missile because of its 
high speed."

General Fadavi said the missile launched Sunday took six years to develop. 
The test, as well as the one described Friday, was part of a week of naval 
maneuvers. State television showed the missile as it was fired. The news 
agency IRNA said the maneuvers were to display "the country's defensive 
capabilities."

Iran's military show of force follows increasing international pressure 
over its nuclear program. Last Wednesday, the United Nations Security 
Council urged Iran to suspend its uranium-enrichment activities and asked 
the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency to report on Iran's 
compliance within 30 days.

Iran has refused to comply. On Sunday, Iran's representative to the atomic 
energy agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, appearing on CNN's "Late Edition with 
Wolf Blitzer," said of the Security Council's action, "We express our 
regret for such a hasty decision because the wisest decision was no 
action."

The state television video broadcast Sunday showed crew members on a 
submarine and described them as preparing to launch the missile. Another 
film clip showed what was described as the missile being fired from the 
deck of a ship and diving into the water.

The Revolutionary Guards air force chief called the antiradar missile that 
was test-fired Friday "a very advanced missile." Mr. Soltanieh, told CNN 
on Sunday that he did not believe that the weapon could carry a nuclear 
warhead. "The world should not worry because any country has its own 
self-defense conventional military activities," he said.







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