Iran's Supreme Leader Inaugurates New Ballistic Missile

July 20, 2003
Agence France-Presse

Iran's supreme leader on Sunday inaugurated a new ballistic missile that brings Israel within range of the Islamic republic, hailing the event as a key moment in the defence of the Palestinian cause.

"Today our people and our armed forces are ready to defend their goals anywhere," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told a ceremony for the elite Revolutionary Guards carried on state television.

"This divine force has answered all threats, and we are witnessing today that this divine force is now doing the same for the Lebanese and the Palestinian people," he added in the ceremony to bring the Shahab-3 missile into service.

In Jerusalem, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman David Saranga said that the new missile "is a threat not only to Israel but to the whole region and also to Europe."

Television pictures showed Khamenei flanked by officers and other clerics, at least 1,000 troops in ceremonial dress, and three of the Shahab-3 rockets on what appeared to be mobile launchers.

The report said the Revolutionary Guards, the hardline ideological spearhead of the regime who have their own air force and navy, were also given some new but unidentified attack and transport helicopters as well as an undisclosed number of Russian-built Sukhoi-25 jets.

Yahya Rahim-Safavi, the head of the Revolutionary Guards, said in his speech during the ceremony in Tehran that his force was now "ready to defend Iran against any threat".

Iran's foreign ministry reported earlier this month a final test of the Shahab-3, which brings arch-enemy Israel well within range of the country's armed forces.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_314527,00050004.htm