Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Iran tests 2 stage missile "Sejil"

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Iran tests 2 stage missile "Sejil"

    Mr. President elect, you turn a cold shoulder to my congratulatory letter and I test you with a new (?) weapon.:(

    Iran test-fired what it claimed was a new generation of long-range missiles this morning, state media reported, as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed to "crush" the nation's enemies.

    Iran's Defence Minister, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, said the Sejil missile had "extremely high capabilities" but affirmed that "it will not be used against any country." He added that the test "has nothing to do with the latest regional and international developments".

    This could be taken as a reference to Barack Obama's victory in the presidential election. Mr Ahmadinejad sent a message of congratulation to Mr Obama on the result, a gesture unprecedented in 30-year history of the Islamic republic. Mr Obama's response was non-committal.

    The latest tests are sign of the urgency of the problem which will face Mr Obama, with analysts predicting that the worst case scenario would see Iran completing a nuclear weapon within months of his inauguration in January.
    Iran denies that its nuclear programme aims at producing a bomb. There has been persistent speculation that the US or Israel might launch airstrikes against sites it suspects are part of a covert weapons programme.

    Iranian state television today showed footage of the launch of a missile similar in size to Iran's existing Shahab-3 missile. "This is a two-stage missile carrying two engines with combined solid fuel," Mr Najjad said.
    A second stage could increase the missile's range, and Mr Najjar said it had a range of 2,000km (1,200 miles), which would enable it to reach Israel and US bases in the Middle East. The Shahab-3 has a range of 1,200km. Solid fuel could also make the new missile more accurate than the Shahab-3, which is thought to use liquid fuel.

    However, Iran's claims about its missile capabilities are often met with scepticism by western analysts. In July it test-fired nine missiles, including one also claimed to have a 2,000km range. Western experts suggested that this weapon did not have a second stage and was in fact identical to the Shahab-3. More embarrassingly, Tehran was caught altering an image of the launches to cover up the failure of one missile to fire.

    In a speech coinciding with the launch, Mr Ahmadinejad told a televised rally in the northern province of Mazandaran that Iran would defeat its enemies. “The Iranian nation defends its honour and whichever power that wants to stand against the movement of the Iranian nation, the Iranian nation will crush it under its foot and slap it on the mouth,” he said.

    Although he often uses such language, the words contrasted with the conciliatory tone he used to Mr Obama, reminding him that "opportunities that are bestowed up humans are shortlived." Yesteday Mohamed Elbaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Authority, expressed hope that the new president could prompt Tehran to work with the international community.

    "If there is a direct dialogue between the United States and Iran, I think Iran will be more forthcoming with the agency," he told a news conference in Prague.

    While saying that a nuclear Iran was "unacceptable", Mr Obama has said he would meet Mr Ahmedinejad and would engage in "tough, direct diplomacy".
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5138413.ece

  • #2
    According to the Pentagon, the missile failed 200 miles into flight with an engine failure.
    "Every man has his weakness. Mine was always just cigarettes."

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Ironduke View Post
      According to the Pentagon, the missile failed 200 miles into flight with an engine failure.
      Ironduke,
      I don't know which test Pentagon is talking about, there was a test conducted last July in which short time after flight the second stage engine failed to fire but news sources state this test was conducted today (Nov. 12 .08).

      Comment


      • #4
        Iranian international PR

        How to win friends and influence people.

        Ahmedinejad seems determined to keep prodding just to see if he will end up with his arm bitten off, election stunt or not.
        Same rehtoric as last November.

        Sejil Mk2

        Iran tests missile as election race starts
        Wed May 20, 2009 7:51am EDT By Zahra Hosseinian and Fredrik Dahl

        TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran launched a missile with a range of close to 2,000 km (1,200 miles) on Wednesday and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Islamic state could send any attacker "to hell," official media reported.

        The stated range of the surface-to-surface Sejil 2 missile would be almost as far as another Iranian missile, Shahab 3, and analysts say such weaponry could put Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf within reach.

        Ahmadinejad announced the launch in a speech on the same day that a powerful clerical watchdog body signaled the official start of campaigning for next month's presidential election by approving him and three rivals as candidates.

        The hardline president's main challengers in the June 12 election are moderates advocating detente with the West.

        But a Western military expert saw Wednesday's missile launch as Iran's response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington this week, during which he has underscored the Jewish state's worries about Iran.

        "Every time they do it, it is in response to a particular event," Andrew Brookes, of the International Institute of Strategic Studies think-tank in London, said of Iran's latest display of its arms capability.

        The launch is likely to arouse further concern in the West and Israel about Iran's military ambitions. The United States and its allies suspect the Islamic Republic is seeking to build nuclear bombs. Tehran denies the charge.

        "The Sejil 2 missile, which has an advanced technology, was launched today ... and it landed exactly on the target," the official IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

        "PLAYING WITH FIRE"

        Ahmadinejad was speaking during a rally in the northern Semnan province, where IRNA said the launch took place. State television said it was a test and showed footage of a missile soaring into the sky, leaving a vapor trail.

        U.S. President Barack Obama is seeking rapprochement with Iran after three decades of mutual hostility. But, like his predecessor George W. Bush, he has not ruled out military action if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the nuclear row.

        Israeli leaders have raised U.S. concern by hinting at pre-emptive strikes if they decide diplomacy has failed. Israel is widely assumed to be the only Middle Eastern nuclear power.

        Iran has said it would respond to any attack by targeting U.S. interests and America's ally Israel, as well as closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for world oil supplies.

        Ahmadinejad said Iran had the power to "send to hell" any military base from where "a bullet" was fired against it.

        He singled out Israel, which Iran refers to as the Zionist regime and does not recognize: "Right now the Zionist regime ... threatens Iran militarily with its false threats and the Iranian nation should know that it is just theater."

        Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said Iran was able to reach Europe as well his country: "If anyone had any doubt, now it's clear to all that Iran is playing with fire."

        Brookes said Iran's missiles were "perfectly good enough to go and cause a problem to Israel" or elsewhere in the region.

        Iran previously test-fired a Sejil missile last November, describing it then as a new generation of surface-to-surface missile. Washington said at the time that the test highlighted the need for a missile defense system it plans to base in Poland and the Czech Republic to counter threats from "rogue states."

        The Obama administration is reviewing the missile shield project for cost effectiveness and viability, though he has said Washington would continue to research and develop the plans.
        Source:Iran tests missile as election race starts | International | Reuters

        Claimed vid of test.



        Cheers.

        Comment


        • #5
          I can see them using it on Israel, only after Israel somehow manage to find a way to attack Iran on its own, thus igniting a larger war

          Personally I don't think Israel or Iran are silly enough to actually start a conflict, I can't see Israel actually going ahead and attacking Iran in the near future, and any unprovoked attack on Israel by Iran would 100% bring the US into the conflict

          Comment


          • #6
            I certainly wouldnt call it "balls" IMO, more like stupidity threatening a nuclear armed Israel election or no election especially while the clock still ticks.;)
            Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Steezy View Post
              I can see them using it on Israel, only after Israel somehow manage to find a way to attack Iran on its own, thus igniting a larger war

              Personally I don't think Israel or Iran are silly enough to actually start a conflict, I can't see Israel actually going ahead and attacking Iran in the near future, and any unprovoked attack on Israel by Iran would 100% bring the US into the conflict
              *Nobody forsaw Israel going after Syrias reactor either until it was the day after and the world learned that Syria was actually building one, no doubt with either one or two other countries help. It was meant to send a message to her foes and unfortunately Iran hasn't realized it just yet judging by this article.;)
              Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Dreadnought View Post
                *Nobody forsaw Israel going after Syrias reactor either until it was the day after and the world learned that Syria was actually building one, no doubt with either one or two other countries help. It was meant to send a message to her foes and unfortunately Iran hasn't realized it just yet judging by this article.;)
                Israel might be able to reach some Iranian sites and shoot down some Iranian missiles. Iran can reach Israel and some missiles will get through. If the Israeli attack fails and their arrow system fails then Israel loses. I don't see them being willing to risk it.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by zraver View Post
                  Israel might be able to reach some Iranian sites and shoot down some Iranian missiles. Iran can reach Israel and some missiles will get through. If the Israeli attack fails and their arrow system fails then Israel loses. I don't see them being willing to risk it.
                  Well Z, Then the question becomes does Israel take Iran serious enough to take that risk. They took it with Syria which has always been a foe and Iran has more sinister intentions then Syria ever announced and are very bold and blatant about it. What would happen to Achmadinijad if Israel did attack and destroy the reactors? Do you think he would be re-elected knowing that his rhetoric provoked Israel into acting?
                  Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    There are no elections in Iran, it's a farce.

                    A-jad will win, it's predetermined.

                    And the clock keeps ticking...
                    L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Steezy View Post
                      Personally I don't think Israel or Iran are silly enough to actually start a conflict, I can't see Israel actually going ahead and attacking Iran in the near future, and any unprovoked attack on Israel by Iran would 100% bring the US into the conflict

                      What are you talking about?

                      Iran is ALREADY attacking Israel through Hamas & Hezbollah.
                      L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Another thing: while the Iranians have resorted to their usual tactics of virulent anti-Israel histrionics to frame the issue as if only Israel was threatened by the new missile, the fact is that Europe is threatened by it too.

                        Hey!! peerless European leaders...'til when are we gonna have permission to publish Mohamed cartoons?

                        If you are appeasing this despicable crew now, what would you not do to appease them when they get nukes?

                        Eh cowards?
                        L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          well they are improving daily, Iran's military power is growing but nothing for the economy. Westerners get scared with Iran's military ambitions but Iran can't start a war for the simple reason that they have no economical foundation to support the army.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Castellano View Post
                            What are you talking about?

                            Iran is ALREADY attacking Israel through Hamas & Hezbollah.

                            Very true. These are proxy militias of Iran.

                            And I can envision Israel preemtively turning a hundred or so preselected Iranian targets into smoking holes. Push the Israelis hard enough and long enough and you'll get a reaction. Iran is indeed playing with fire.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Castellano View Post
                              There are no elections in Iran, it's a farce.

                              A-jad will win, it's predetermined.

                              And the clock keeps ticking...
                              Their elections are not the fairest in the world, but reformists have been elected before.
                              Smells like napalm, tastes like chicken!

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X