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Iran test fires long range missiles
miller8966
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EHRAN, Iran (Reuters) -- Iran test fired a long-range, radar-evading missile on Sunday from a submarine in the Gulf as part of war games that began earlier this month, state television reported.
The missile was called Sagheb, which means Piercing, but the report did not give the missile's range.
"Minutes ago it was launched from a submarine in the Persian Gulf and it hit the target," television reported.
Western nations have been watching developments in Iran's missile capabilities with concern amid a standoff over the country's nuclear program, which the West says is aimed at building atomic bombs. Iran says the program is only civilian.
Iran's military also held war games in the Gulf in April. Those exercises were interpreted by analysts as a thinly veiled threat that Iran could disrupt vital oil shipping lanes if pushed by an escalation in the nuclear dispute.
A navy admiral, named only as Kouchaki, told state television the missile had been designed and produced in Iran.
"It can be installed and launched by Iran's navy. It is a long-range missile, with a very high speed and destructive power. It is also radar evading," he said.
The Islamic Republic has three aging Kilo class diesel-electric Russian submarines and also builds midget submarines. The Sagheb is listed as an air defense missile by the Nuclear Threat Initiative Web site (http://www.nti.org).
Military analysts say Iran often exaggerates its abilities, They argue that its military equipment is outmoded and that new missiles Iran claims to have produced are often modified versions from other countries such as North Korea.
But they also say Iranian forces could, if pushed, cause havoc in shipping lanes in the Gulf, even if they would be no match in any conventional confrontation with the high-tech forces of the U.S. and other navies operating in the area.
Copyright 2006 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may no
The missile was called Sagheb, which means Piercing, but the report did not give the missile's range.
"Minutes ago it was launched from a submarine in the Persian Gulf and it hit the target," television reported.
Western nations have been watching developments in Iran's missile capabilities with concern amid a standoff over the country's nuclear program, which the West says is aimed at building atomic bombs. Iran says the program is only civilian.
Iran's military also held war games in the Gulf in April. Those exercises were interpreted by analysts as a thinly veiled threat that Iran could disrupt vital oil shipping lanes if pushed by an escalation in the nuclear dispute.
A navy admiral, named only as Kouchaki, told state television the missile had been designed and produced in Iran.
"It can be installed and launched by Iran's navy. It is a long-range missile, with a very high speed and destructive power. It is also radar evading," he said.
The Islamic Republic has three aging Kilo class diesel-electric Russian submarines and also builds midget submarines. The Sagheb is listed as an air defense missile by the Nuclear Threat Initiative Web site (http://www.nti.org).
Military analysts say Iran often exaggerates its abilities, They argue that its military equipment is outmoded and that new missiles Iran claims to have produced are often modified versions from other countries such as North Korea.
But they also say Iranian forces could, if pushed, cause havoc in shipping lanes in the Gulf, even if they would be no match in any conventional confrontation with the high-tech forces of the U.S. and other navies operating in the area.
Copyright 2006 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may no
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