Leader Orders Navy to Focus on Malacca, Bab el-Mandeb, Hormuz Straits

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Navy has concentrated its missions on the strategic straits of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb and Malacca after a relevant order by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Monday.

"The golden triangle of Malacca, Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz is an important triangle and is the Navy's point of concentration as recommended by the Leader," Sayyari said, addressing Navy cadets in Iran's Southern port city of Bandar Imam Khomeini.

Underlining the strategic and vital importance of the three waterways for Iran, the Admiral explained that 93% of Iran's exports and imports pass through these sea routes.

Earlier this month, the Iranian Navy dispatched its 25th flotilla of warships to the Gulf of Aden and the high seas to protect the country's cargo ships and oil tankers against pirates.

The 25th fleet of warships, comprised of Alborz missile warship and Larak logistic ship, left the Army's first naval zone for a mission in the high seas after the 24th flotilla returned home.

The Navy's 24th fleet of warships docked in Southern Iran after successfully conducting a 72-day mission in international waters to provide maritime security in the region.

The Iranian flotilla comprised of Khark chopper carrier and Sabalan destroyer and was on a mission to the Pacific Ocean since late January.

Presence in the Indian and Pacific oceans and the China Sea, patrolling Southeast Asia's strategic Strait of Malacca, crossing the Equator, docking at China's port city of Zhangjiagang port and identifying 370 surface and subsurface vessel units were among the important tasks carried out by the fleet.

Last month, the Iranian warships docked in Zhangjiagang after a 13,000-kilometer voyage in 40 days as part of their mission to convey Iran's message of peace and friendship to the East Asian states.

The Iranian commanders, however, underlined that the Iranian Navy's activities and its combat capabilities pose no threat to any country in the region as they just carry a message of peace and friendship for nations.

The Iranian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since November 2008, when Somali raiders hijacked the Iranian-chartered cargo ship, MV Delight, off the coast of Yemen.

According to UN Security Council resolutions, different countries can send their warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia against the pirates and even with prior notice to Somali government enter the territorial waters of that country in pursuit of Somali sea pirates.

Iran's FM says next year "drug tsunami" to hit region

Source : Trend.Az

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that next year, the region will experience even more problems with drugs, and it will eventually be hit with a "drug tsunami", IRNA reported.

Salehi made the remarks at the meeting of senior officials in the framework of the Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process on Afghanistan, which started its work today in Kazakhstan.

The key objective of the meeting is to agree on the text of the Almaty Declaration and other documents of the main ministerial-level meeting scheduled for April 26, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

Speaking of Afghanistan, Salehi said that next year the land in Afghanistan that is used for growing drugs, will increase by 3 times.

Further speaking, Iran's FM noted that the region suffers from low level of education, lack of financial resources, and weak economic structures.

"These are the common problems for regional countries, that negatively affect all of them," Salehi said.

He noted that for solving these problems, foreign forces must exit the region, as regional countries should deal with their problems on their own.

"The result of foreign intervention in the region has led to increase of drug trafficking in the first place," Salehi noted.

Salehi expressed hope that Afghanistan, and other Asian countries would pay more attention to regional cooperation, and increase it, so that the overal security in the region would improve.

Iran has intensified its fight against drug trafficking as the Islamic Republic's geographical position has made it a favorite transit corridor for drug traffickers who intend to smuggle their cargoes from Afghanistan to drug dealers in Europe.

Each year, the government of Iran spends hundreds of millions of dollars erecting barriers along the borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan and pumping resources into checkpoints. Officials said the battle against drug addiction and trafficking costs Iran $1 billion a year.

Western sanctions make Iran's economy "more dynamic": minister

Source : Xinhua

TEHRAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Western sanctions against Iran have made the country's economy more dynamic, an Iranian minister said Tuesday.

The sanctions not only failed to cripple Iran's economy, but also helped it become more dynamic, Tehran Times daily quoted Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Shamseddin Hosseini, as saying.

The West has made a "miscalculation" by imposing sanctions on the Islamic republic, Press TV quoted him as saying at the same time.

Iran is under the West's substantive sanction pressures, especially on its oil industry, oil exports and financial system, due to its controversial nuclear program.

On Sunday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Western sanctions against Iran serve psychological purposes rather than being a measure of effective use.

"Enemies of Iran try to block the nation's progress and they have waged a massive psychological war (on the country)," Ahmadinejad was quoted by Fars news agency as saying.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials have reiterated that the country has made "great advancements" under Western sanctions.

Iran Army fighters equipped with 200Km-range missiles

Source : Islamic Invitation Turkey

One of Iran’s new achievements in airplane industry has been unveiled in National Army Day, which is said to improve Iran’s capability in air fighting. Deploying sea Cruise missiles on air fighters and helicopters has been one of techniques focused upon by the commanders and experts in Iran’s defensive industry as dealing with marine threats posed by the enemy.

Project Qaem was one such project dedicated to deploying Nour120Km-range air-to-surface missiles on Army fighters.

Project Qaem; Nour Cruise missile deployment on fighters

Nour Cruise missile is the most famous and most produced sea Cruise used in marine drills of the IRGC and Army Navy. These missiles would be used in targeting floating targets, oil platforms, and marine strongholds of the enemy as ground-based, sea-based and air-based. The 200 Km-range Qader Cuise missiles was unveiled in August 21 2012 by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, but at that time western media propaganda that the story of Iran developing such missiles had been false, and that Iranians had a foreign replica of the missile. No sooner than they had launched the propaganda that Defense Ministry delivered more than 20 Qader new missiles to IRGC and Army Navy, to show that the Islamic republic of Iran, not only designed and developed the missile, but also it produced in factory scale in short time since unveiling.

Qader Cruise missile

Images of launching Qader missile from coastal areas to surface and floating targets show confidence on high range of the missile and its targeting systems. The Defense Minister said during delivery ceremony that like its previous model, this missile can be launched in three methods of ground-based (launched from coastal areas), sea-based (launched from floating systems) and air-based.

Launching Qader Cruise missile from coast

Autopilot system, high-precision navigation system, pre-launched programming, capability of low-profile radar targeting, advanced radar system capable of dealing with electronic war, preparation and immediate reaction to attack targets and capability to inflict damage to ground targets are among the capabilities of Qader Cruise missile. After launching the missile in naval drills, which demonstrated its capability to be launched from coastal and floating launchers, the air-based version of Qader deployed during the National Army Day ceremony, indicated that deploying project of this missile on air fighters has been successful, and now the time has come for deploying 200Km-range missiles on air fighters and helicopters; which widens the Army scope in dealing with airborne threats.

Air-based Qader missile during National Army Day parade

A common feature of using Qader on air fighters and helicopters is that given the long range, launchers can be deployed in a distance far away from enemy floating systems, and on the other hand, cut the scope of safe zone for enemy warships maneuvering, and thus, increasing the likelihood that enemy systems would be kept at bay, thus more vulnerable to damage. Along with Fakour air-to-air system (capable of targeting F-14 fighters), this system is air-based achievement deployed during National Army Day ceremony.

Official dismisses G8 statement about Iran’s missile, nuclear programs

Source : http://old.mehrnews.com

TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday dismissed the recent statement issued by G8 foreign ministers about the country’s nuclear and missile programs.

In a statement issued after a meeting in London on April 11, G8 foreign ministers “expressed their deep concern regarding Iran’s continuing nuclear and ballistic missile activities in violation of numerous UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said, “Iran’s missile program is in line with the country’s defense doctrine in legitimate defense of Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity and poses no threat to any country.”

He also said that “the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program is entirely peaceful and is under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency and can in no way be a source of concern.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Mehmanparast dismissed another part of the statement in which G8 ministers “urged Iran to comply with international obligations to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion, and end interference with the media, arbitrary executions, torture, and other restrictions placed on rights and freedoms.”

The Iranian spokesman said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a religious (state) established based on the demand and will of the people abides by its international commitments in the area of human rights.”

He added that the human rights issue should not be used as a tool for political purposes.

EP/PA MNA END

Iran to Mark National Army Day with Nationwide Parades

Source : Fars News Agency

In Tehran, the ceremony will be held at the mausoleum of the Founder of the Islamic Republic, the late Imam Khomeini, in Southern Tehran.

Senior Iranian officials as well as a host of top military commanders will attend the ceremony.

The Iranian Army plans to display its latest weaponry and military products and achievements in the annual parades.

Earlier, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said his forces plan to display their latest achievements on the National Army Day.

"The new achievements of the force (Navy) will be unveiled on Farvardin 29 (April 18)."

Iran's Air Defense Force also plans to display its latest equipment and capabilities, including its latest Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the parades.

Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli announced on Wednesday that his base will show its latest achievements and different types of radar systems in the Army Day parades here in Tehran tomorrow.

"Also in the parades, we will display reconnaissance and defense drones which have been designed and manufactured with the assistance of the Defense Industries," Esmayeeli added.

The commander said that UAVs are considered as a covert defense layer and can be used for deterrence and other purposes.

The Iranian Army Ground Force also plans to unveil three new products.

Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan told a press conference on the threshold of the country's National Army Day that "these achievements are in the communication, simulators and air defense fields".

The Iranian Army has recently test-fired different types of newly-developed missiles and torpedoes and tested a large number of its home-made weapons, tools and equipments, including submarines, military ships, artillery, choppers, aircraft, UAVs and air defense and electronic systems, during massive military drills.

Defense analysts and military observers say that Iran's wargames and its advancements in weapons production have proved as a deterrent factor, specially at a time of heightened threats by Israel and the US.

South Africa’s deputy FM to visit Tehran

Source :

TEHRAN, Apr. 17 (MNA) – South Africa’s deputy foreign minister is scheduled to pay a three-day visit to Tehran at the head of a delegation. The trip starts from Wednesday.

The South African delegation plans to review the implementation of mutual agreements and discuss cooperation in areas of education and environment.

Iran to Unveil New Naval Cruise Missile, Air-Launched Achievements

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran plans to unveil its latest home- made naval cruise missile as well as four air- launched achievements in the near future, an Iranian defense industry official announced.

"We will unveil a new cruise class naval missile in the near future," Head of the Defense Ministry's Aerospace Industries Organization General Seyed Mehdi Farahi told FNA on Wednesday.

"The missile is an optimized version of the previous missiles which can boost our defensive power in sea battles," Farahi said, adding that the new surface-to-surface missile is more powerful than the previous version and enjoys a longer range.

The defense ministry official further said that Iran will also display 4 news air- launched achievements tomorrow on the occasion of the National Army Day on Farvardin 29 (April 18).

He further said that Iran will display its achievements in ballistic, cruise and anti- armor missiles later this Iranian year (March 21, 2013 - March 20- 2014).

Yesterday, a senior Iranian defense ministry official said that Iran's anti-ship ballistic missile power has forced the US warships in the Persian Gulf to retreat from their positions.

Addressing a group of Iranian soldiers here in Tehran on Tuesday, Deputy Defense Minister General Majid Bokayee said Iran designed and developed home-made anti-ship ballistic missiles because this kind of missile can target enemy vessels easily.

"We managed to employ the ballistic missiles which had previously been designed and produced for ground-to-ground missions for targeting enemy ships, and then we witnessed the US naval fleets' retreat in the Persian Gulf after the first test on the missile," Bokayee stated.

In July 2012, Iran's supersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles, 'Khalij-e-Fars (Persian Gulf)', displayed their 100 percent precision capability after hitting and destroying the specified targets in the last phase of the Payambar-e Azam 7 (The Great Prophet 7) drills.

Defense Official: US Warships Pushed Back by Iran's Ballistic Missile Power

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's anti-ship ballistic missile power has forced the US warships in the Persian Gulf to retreat from their positions, a senior Iranian defense ministry official said.

Addressing a group of Iranian soldiers here in Tehran on Tuesday, Deputy Defense Minister General Majid Bokayee said Iran designed and developed home-made anti-ship ballistic missiles because this kind of missile can target enemy vessels easily.

"We managed to employ the ballistic missiles which had previously been designed and produced for ground-to-ground missions for targeting enemy ships, and then we witnessed the US naval fleets' retreat in the Persian Gulf after the first test on the missile," Bokayee stated.

In July 2012, Iran's supersonic anti-ship ballistic missiles, 'Khalij-e-Fars (Persian Gulf)', displayed their 100 percent precision capability after hitting and destroying the specified targets in the last phase of the Payambar-e Azam 7 (The Great Prophet 7) drills.

"The Persian Gulf missile precisely hit and destroyed the target which was several times smaller than the marine targets which can pose a threat," Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said at the end of the last phase of the wargames on July 4, 2012.

In early 2011, Iran started the mass-production of the Persian Gulf anti-ship missile which is designed to destroy targets and hostile forces at sea.

The supersonic projectile, which carries a 650-kilogram warhead, is immune to interception and features high-precision systems

Iran, Benin call for expanding ties

Source : Islamic Invitation Turkey

Presidents of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Benin have called for expansion of ties between the two countries.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Thomas Yayi Boni made the remarks at a joint conference held at the airport of capital Cotonou after the Iranian president’s arrival in the West African country on Sunday. Ahmadinejad said, “The two countries are determined to expand their cooperation”, adding, “Iran and Benin have great potentials in different fields such as economy, culture, tourism, and trade, which could be employed in the interest of the two nations.” Yayi for his part called for boosting relations between the two countries, saying, “Dr. Ahmadinejad ‘s presence in Benin shows [Iran’s] friendship with Africa.” Earlier in the day, the Iranian president left capital Tehran to begin a three-day tour of Africa. Ahmadinejad said he is making the visit upon an invitation by the presidents of the three African countries of Benin, Niger, and Ghana. This is Ahmadinejad’s last scheduled visit to Africa as Iran’s president as his term in office will come to an end in three months. The Islamic Republic’s 11th presidential election will be held in June 2013.

Iranian president to visit Africa

Source  :  Xinhua

TEHRAN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Niger, Ghana and Benin in the following days, Press TV reported Saturday.

Ahmadinejad will start his tour by visiting Niger's capital Niamey on Sunday, the report said.

During his three-day visit, the president will hold talks with his African counterparts and ink new agreements to develop economic and political cooperation with the African countries, the report said.

This will be Ahmadinejad's last visit to Africa as president, as his term ends in two months.

Iranian officials said the Islamic republic's policy toward establishing relations with African countries is strategic, emphasizing that Iran is ready to share experience in technical, engineering, scientific and technological fields with African states.

Iranian Army Test-Fires 3 New Missiles

Source  : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian Army Ground Force announced on Saturday that it has tested three new missiles successfully.

"Three types of missiles developed by the Army and the Defense Industries have been successfully test-fired in the Ground Force's recent wargames," Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Force Gen. Kioumars Heydari told FNA on Saturday.

The General declined to mention the specific details of the newly tested missiles, but mentioned that these "ground-to-ground missiles are different from the Naze'at 10 and Fajr missiles in type".

He further said that the Ground Force will also unveil its new personnel carriers during the parades to be staged throughout the country on the National Army Day on April 18.

The Army Ground Force test-fired Naze'at-10 and Fajr-5 during military exercises in Central Iran in mid March.

The missiles, which have been designed and built by experts of the Army Ground Force, were test- fired during the first day of the Army's ground drills around Kashan (Isfahan Province) some 340 km South of the Iranian capital.

The missile and rocket units of the Army Ground Force were participating in the drills to display their latest achievements and defensive tactics.

The Fajr-5 is a long-range rocket artillery with a maximum range of 75 km, while Naze'at-10 is a medium-range ballistic missile.

Iranian officials and commanders have repeatedly stressed that all military exercises and trainings of the Iranian Armed Forces are merely meant to serve deterrent purposes.

"When the enemy observes that our Armed Forces are constantly in wargame zones and their fingers are kept on the trigger, it will not dare to invade the Islamic Iran's borders," Army Ground Force Commander Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said in January, underlining the significance of military trainings for boosting the country's deterrent power.

In similar remarks in February, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said military power and achievements of the Iranian Armed Forces merely serve deterrent purposes.

"I am sure that the military power of the Iranian nation is not for attacking or dominating any other country, rather it is meant to be a deterrent factor," President Ahmadinejad said, addressing a ceremony to unveil a new Iran-made fighter jet, named Qaher 313.

"The military power of the Iranian nation is a demonstration of the faith and maturity of the Iranian nation which can defend itself at the lowest costs," Ahmadin

Iran calls for expansion of ties with Russia

Source : IRNA

Moscow, April 12, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Ministry ˈs Director General for Commonwealth States and Caucuses Affairs Mohammad Reza Morshedzadeh in a meeting with head of a Central Asian department in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexander Sternik called for more efforts to counter narcotics, extremism and terrorism efforts.

On necessity of fostering peace, security and tranquility in the region, Morshedzadeh urged fostering friendly and good neighborly cooperation with the Caucuses and Central Asian countries.

On Iran-Russia historic, cultural, civilizational and religious commonalties of Iran and regional countries, he noted that the two countries could play a pivotal role in fostering cooperation within framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The Russian official, for his part, said Iran enjoys special status in establishment of peace and tranquility in the region.

China calls Iran nuclear talks ‘constructive’

Source  :  http://old.mehrnews.com/

TEHRAN, Apr 10 (MNA) – The head of the Chinese delegation present in the talks over Iran’s nuclear program in Almaty, Kazakhstan, has described the talks as “constructive” and “significant.”

In a statement published on China’s Foreign Ministry website on Tuesday, Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said that for the first time the two parties conducted sincere, in-depth and substantive discussions to achieve a solution on Iran’s nuclear issue.

He also said that the two sides have common concerns while differences still exist.

Ma pointed out that China hopes that all relevant parties will make efforts to pave the ground for reaching to a comprehensive and long-term solution to the issue by narrowing the gaps and gradually developing a consensus.

China is committed to diplomatic talks and is ready to work with all sides to make continued and constructive efforts toward that end, he added.

During the Almaty meeting, Ma also met with representatives of the United States, Russia, Iran, and France.

Over two days of talks in Almaty on April 5 and 6, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany – known as the P5+1 – offered to ease some sanctions in return for Iranian concessions on its 20 percent uranium enrichment program, which lies at the heart of the controversy.

Iran says its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and insists that its right to uranium enrichment, as enumerated in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, must be recognized.

Iran to Unveil New Drones, Aircraft in Coming Months

Source  :  Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran plans to start unveiling a series of new home-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and fighter jets from April, a senior Iranian defense official announced on Saturday.

Deputy Defense Minister for Industrial and Research Affairs Mohammad Eslami said the country plans to unveil different types of defense achievements during the current Iranian year, which started on March 21, 2013.

Eslami said home-made fighter jets as well as new indigenous modern drones will be unveiled this year.

He said Iran will start displaying new defense achievements from Khordad 3 (May 24), marking the anniversary of the liberation of Khorramshahr city from Iraqi occupation during the eight-year Iraqi imposed war (1980-1988).

In similar remarks in February, Eslami had announced that Tehran plans to unveil its long-range drone late in May.

"We are producing 20 types of UAVs inside the country, which are classified in the three categories of long, short and mid-range and altitude," Eslami said at the time.

He said the long-range category is known as a strategic class, and added the mid-range drones are used for reconnaissance missions, while the short-range drones are suitable for training courses and wargames.

He noted the production of the strategic class of drones, and said, "We hope to soon unveil new strategic drones which can fly up to 30,000 feet in altitude and 24 hours of nonstop flight."

Iran has recently made giant advancements in aerospace industries, specially in designing and manufacturing pilotless drones.

On February 2, Iran unveiled an advanced home-made aircraft, named Qaher 313, in a ceremony attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The new aircraft has a unique face in terms of shape and structure and its design is unique in the world.

The aircraft's broken wing design has gifted it the ability to fly in different low, mid and high altitudes.

Iran marks Islamic Republic Day

Source  :   Xinhua

TEHRAN, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran celebrated on Monday the 34th anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic.

Thirty-four years ago, Iranians voted for the establishment of the Islamic Republic following the overthrow of Iran's U.S.-backed Shah regime.

Back then and after the 1979 victory of Iranians' Islamic Revolution, in a referendum over 98.2 percent of the Iranians voted 'yes' to the establishment of an Islamic Republic system.

Addressing a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that April 1, Farvardin 12 in the Iranian calendar, marked the birthday of the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to a Press TV report Monday.

"On this day, the blood of thousands of martyrs that prepared the ground for the establishment of the Islamic state bore fruit," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.

Since then, the Iranians annually celebrate April 1 as the anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, referred to as the Islamic Republic Day.