Are Iran's warships nearing U.S.?
Iran is lauding the successful test-firing of new missiles, including
one designed to destroy "all types of enemy military equipment," state
media said.
U.S. officials say they're paying close attention.
The Iranian Defense
Ministry said the new missiles include a laser-guided surface-to-surface
and air-to-surface missile as well as a new long-range ballistic
missile that can carry multiple warheads, Iran's semi-official Fars news
agency reported.
Iranian Defense Minister
Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehqan said the long-range ballistic missile can
evade enemies' anti-missile defense systems and has "the capability of
destroying massive targets and destroying multiple targets."
Pentagon spokesman Adm. John Kirby said the agency has seen the reports.
"Iran's missile program continues to pose a dangerous threat to region, and is an issue we monitor closely," he said.
Kirby noted that U.N.
Security Council Resolution 1929 prohibits Iran from undertaking any
activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear
weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology.
Iran's missiles testing
comes just days after Iranian warships reportedly were en route toward
U.S. maritime borders, according to Fars.
"Iran's military fleet is
approaching the United States' maritime borders, and this move has a
message," Iranian navy Adm. Afshin Rezayee Haddad said, according to
Fars.
The plan, Fars reported
Saturday, serves as a response to the United States beefing up its naval
presence in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain.
But a U.S. military official said there was no operational information to support the claim.
The timing of Iran's
missile testing is notable for another reason: Fars said it happened on
Monday, the eve of the 35th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The revolution signified the end of Iran's Western-backed monarchy under
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and the beginning of an Islamic republic.
On Tuesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivered a speech celebrating the revolution -- and slamming the United States.
"The revolution started
because people didn't want to accept humiliation," Rouhani told his
country. "Is it possible for the great revolutionary people, it is
possible for this nation to accept humiliation by foreign powers or
America after 35 years? It is as if they have not recognized the great
nation of Iran. They don't have the right understanding and knowledge of
the Iranian people."
Iran's navy aims to make PR splash with voyage
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