Iran launches assault boats, warns ‘don’t play with fire’

[marcos98]

Iran launches assault boats, warns ‘don’t play with fire’

Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, center, speaks in front of a Zolfaghar assault boat as it is displayed at the Defense Ministry Naval Industries Complex in Tehran on Monday.


Tehran: Iran began mass-producing two high-speed variants of missile-launching assault boats on Monday, warning its enemies not to "play with fire" as it boosts security along its coastline.

The inauguration of the production lines for the Seraj and Zolfaqar speedboats comes a day after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled Iran's home-built bomber drone, which he said would deliver "death" to Iran's enemies.

The United States expressed concern about the Islamic republic's growing military capabilities.

Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that the Seraj (Lamp) and Zolfaqar (named after Shiite Imam Ali's sword) boats would be manufactured at the marine industries complex of the defence ministry.

Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi opened the assembly lines, saying the vessels would help to strengthen Iran's defences, IRNA said.

"Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is relying on a great defence industry and the powerful forces of Sepah (Revolutionary Guards) and the army, with their utmost strength, can provide security to the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and Strait of Hormuz," Vahidi said.

He issued a stern warning to Iran's foes.

"The enemy must be careful of its adventurous behaviour and not play with fire because the Islamic Republic of Iran's response would be unpredictable," IRNA quoted him as saying.

"If enemies attack Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran's reaction will not be restricted to one area. The truth of our defence doctrine is that we will not attack any country and that we extend our hand to all legitimate countries."

Iran's arch-foes, the United States and Israel, have not ruled out taking military action over Tehran's controversial nuclear programme.

"This is... something that is of concern to us and... concern to Iran's neighbours," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters in Washington of Iran's latest military acquisitions.

He said that while all nations had the right to self-defence, the United States "take into account... systems that can potentially... threaten particular countries or peace and stability in the region."

Faced with "the growth Iran's capabilities over a number of years, we've stepped up our military cooperation with other countries in the region," Crowley said.

Iran has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, choking off some 40 percent of tanker-shipped oil worldwide, in the event of a military attack.

IRNA said Zolfaqar was a new generation missile-launching vessel.

"It is designed for quick assaults on ships and is equipped with two missile launchers, two machine guns and a computer system to control the missiles," the report said.

Fars news agency cited Vahidi as saying that Zolfaqar was to be equipped with the Nasr 1 (Victory) marine cruise missile "which has high destructive power."

Iran has previously said that the Nasr missile can destroy targets weighing up to 3,000 tonnes.

IRNA said Seraj, designed for a tropical climate, was also a swift assault vessel for use in the Caspian sea, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, adding that it can also fire rockets.

"Seraj is a fast-moving assault rocket launcher using sophisticated and modern technology," Vahidi was cited as saying by IRNA.

The launch of the production lines comes as Iran marks its annual "government week," when it traditionally showcases its latest technological achievements.

The naval commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Ali Fadavi, was quoted by IRNA as saying that the missile-launching boats are the world's fastest.

"The Iranian-made missile-launching boats rank first in the world when it comes to their velocity," he said.

Ahmadinejad on Sunday unveiled a bomber drone with a range of up to 1,000 kilometres (620 miles), which he dubbed the "ambassador of death."

State media said the drone, Karar (Assailant), can carry four stealth cruise missiles, two bombs of 250 pounds (115 kilos) each or a precision missile of 500 pounds (230 kilos).

Tehran on Friday test-fired a surface-to-surface missile named Qiam (Rising), and more announcements are expected over the next few days, including the test-firing of a third-generation Fateh (Conqueror) 110 missile.

Iran also recently took delivery of four domestically built Ghadir mini-submarines, stealth vessels designed to operate in shallow waters such as the Gulf.

 

[marcos98]

US concerned about Iran’s assault boats, drone

Washington: The United States voiced concern Monday over Iran's unveiling of new assault boats and an aerial drone, but said Iran's arms buildup will backfire as its neighbors gang up against it. Iran began mass-producing two high-speed variants of missile-launching assault boats on Monday, a day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad revealed a home-built bomber drone.

"This is... something that is of concern to us and... concern to Iran's neighbors," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters. He said that while every country had the right to provide for its self-defense, the United States takes into account "systems that can potentially... threaten particular countries or peace and stability in the region." Faced with "the growth of Iran's capabilities over a number of years, we've stepped up our military cooperation with other countries in the region," Crowley said.

"This is one of the reasons why... we believe that if Iran continues on the path that it's on... (it) might find itself less secure because you'll have countries in the region that join together to offset Iran's growing capabilities." He added that the United States is still open to "constructive dialogue" with Iran to answer questions it and the world community have about its nuclear program, which Washington fears is aimed at building a bomb. "But in the meantime, we will work with other countries to try to do everything that we can to maintain peace and stability in the region," Crowley said.

 

[marcos98]

 

[Pasban]

 

[Pasban]

---------- Post added at 11:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:57 AM ----------

Iran Equips High-Speed Zolfaqar Vessel with Cruise Missiles

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced on Monday that the country's Navy has equipped its new high-speed vessels named 'Zolfaqar' with 'Nasr 1' cruise missiles capable of destroying 3-ton weighted vessels.

"The Zolfaqar vessel is considered as a new model of the vessels of the same class which is capable of conducting operations in different marine conditions thanks to its sea-to-sea missiles and proper speed," Vahidi said.

Reminding that the vessel has been strengthened with the Nasr 1 cruise missile, he reiterated, "The sea-to-sea cruise missile with high destructive capability and targeting power has immensely increased the vessel's power."

Nasr 1 is a short-range coast-to-sea and sea-to-sea missile which can be fired from coasts and all types of vessels.

Meantime, a senior Iranian commander had announced in May that Iran is able to produce its needed military tools and equipments domestically, and said that the country has already equipped all its naval vessels with home-made missiles.

"Today we can announce that all the vessels of the Army have been equipped with missiles built inside the country," Commander of the Iranian Army Major General Ataollah Salehi said at the time.

Iran has been pushing an arms development program in recent years in a bid to reach self-sufficiency. Tehran launched its arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran, to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own jet fighters and armored vehicles as well as radar-avoiding missiles and other high-tech weapons.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.

Fars News Agency :: Iran Equips High-Speed Zolfaqar Vessel with Cruise Missiles

 

[mughaljee]

Congratulate .

 

[lcloo]

These little boats can be easily mass produced and can be very lethal in the narrow straits.

 

[rameez ahmed]

very good Iran .. Keep it up...

 

[ای ایران]

This looks like a prop that would have been used in some kind of Dr Who flick from like back in the 1970s. But at the least the Sepah keeps on trying, though. The IRGC started out as nothing but a rag-tag para-military force of partisans but in just under 30 years they have evolved and developed quite quickly into a full-fledged military. Too bad they've also evolved into a corrupt business empire too, however.

 

[TorontoNoctis]

I wonder what the Iranian Navy thinks of these IRGC boats?

Militarily they could or could not be useful depending how they are used. Could camo hundreds of them on shore near the Strait of Hormuz, spread out along the entire coastline instead of in naval bases and send them out in pairs or alone in suicide attacks, using the cruise missile to sink shipping or get lucky shots. If they are used like a fleet or in groups of five or ten like the IRGC are using them now, they will be massacred.

Politically they're invaluable. To an American politician saying Iran has "thousands of speedboats" to close the Strait is a lot more serious than a tiny conventional navy. Which may prevent war since no sane politician would risk cutting the world's oil supply in half. So hope for sane leaders.

 

[Pasban]

This looks like a prop that would have been used in some kind of Dr Who flick from like back in the 1970s. But at the least the Sepah keeps on trying, though. The IRGC started out as nothing but a rag-tag para-military force of partisans but in just under 30 years they have evolved and developed quite quickly into a full-fledged military. Too bad they've also evolved into a corrupt business empire too, however.

Actually, even if one considers them an ardent foe, one has to admit that the Sepah Pasdaran have made milestones from themselves and have developed into an organized credible force, within their doctrine. As to the last bit, I completely agree with you-- it's what lowers their reputation the most. It isn't limited to them alone though as you know, most of the organs of the IR are a drift with internal corruption. When and if the IR can address this major Iranian problem, they would at least get more credibility in governance from all our humvatan. This isn't the place to discuss such things but personally, the whole structure needs to be revamped. Some of these thieves need really to be hung publicly-- when you steal from the labour of the poor, that is what you deserve
Sorry I get hyped up but I love our people dearly. They soak their sweat with their blood and confront this in return.

 

[SparklingCrescent]

Wow. Very Impressive. Keep it up Iran.