While Wally is grieving over the Virginia Tech mass murder victims, I have
taken over his task temporarily, and will provide some highlights on the
US and Middle East military madness.
Docrodile :)~
Iran navy says it will launch Iran-built destroyer
17 Apr 2007 16:23:44 GMT
Source: Reuters
TEHRAN, April 17 (Reuters) - Iran's navy plans to launch the first
Iranian-built destroyer soon, the official IRNA news agency quoted a naval
commander as saying on Tuesday.
The announcement in the Gulf port of Bandar Abbas comes at a time of
growing tension between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear programme,
which Washington and others suspect is a cover for making atom bombs.
Tehran denies the charge.
"Soon the first Iranian-made destroyer will be launched ... and will
surprise the world's military community with its facilities, equipment,
capabilities and technology," commander Darioush Ebrahimnejad told a news
conference.
He called it one of the most modern ships of its kind in the world, but
did not give details or say when it would be officially unveiled.
Destroyers are fast warships with guns and torpedoes used to protect other
ships.
Last month, state television said Iran's navy had held more than a week of
war games in the Gulf using tactical submarines and small vessels carrying
missile launchers.
The exercises were the latest in a series of manoeuvres staged by Iran's
military in the Gulf, where the United States has deployed two aircraft
carriers in recent months, a move widely seen as a warning to Tehran over
its nuclear ambitions.
Although Iran may not have the technology to match that of U.S. forces,
experts say it could still cause trouble for shipping in the Gulf and
disrupt flows of crude in the waterway, through which 40 percent of the
world's traded oil is shipped.
Washington has said it wants a diplomatic solution to the nuclear row but
has not ruled out using of force if that fails. Iran, which insists its
atomic plans are peaceful, says it will target U.S. interests in the
region if it comes under attack.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/DAH753898.htm
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