Saturday, September 18, 2004
Iran to test-fire long-range missile
Press Trust of India Tehran, September 18
Iran's Revolutionary Guards will test fire a long-range missile on Friday during military manoeuvres being watched by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, state television said.
"The most important part of today's programme consists of the firing of a long-range missile on fictitious enemy positions," the television said.
It referred to the missile as a "strategic" one, a term that normally refers to weapons systems designed to strike an enemy at the source of its power, such as its cities, factories, military bases, communications and transport.
The report gave no details on the range or capabilities of the missile.
Iran's development of ballistic missiles has added to international concerns over the Islamic republic's nuclear activities.
It recently tested an enhanced version of its medium-range Shahab-3 missile, which is derived from the North Korean No-dong missile reportedly capable of carrying a 1,000 kg warhead.
The Shahab-3 was deployed among the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in July last year. Although the missile has been paraded with the banner "Israel should be wiped off the map", Iran says it is purely defensive.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.