IRGC Denies ballistic missile range

IRGC clarifies ballistic missile range.(UOI).

According to FARS News Agency:

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in a statement on Saturday rejected media reports claiming that Iran has developed missiles which could reach targets 12,000 km in distance, stressing that the maximum range of Iran's missiles is 2,000 km.

"Some media have made a mistake when quoting a part of the remarks of the IRGC Aerospace Force Commander (Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh) about IRGC's missiles and said their range is 12000 kilometers," the statement issued by the IRGC's Public Relations said on Saturday.

"Actually, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh has pointed to the IRGC Aerospace Force's defensive capabilities, and said 'at present, the range of our long-range missiles is 2,000km and the reason is that our enemies are within this range ... and they are not much worth to be targetted by costly missiles'," continued the statement.

This writer could not find the Western media report specifically citing a 12,000 km range, however the Iranians might generally be referring to ICBM ranges capable of hitting the United States. This potential capability is based upon speculation as to the ultimate intentions of Simorgh and Sepehr IRILV projects.*

This isn't the first time the Iranians have denied development of an ICBM; they did so also during the previous administration.

The Fars article identified three IRGC-ASF ballistic missiles with a range of 2000 km: Shahab-3, Ghadr-F and Sejjil-1/2, the latter cited as a "third generation" MRBM of slightly longer range.

*Hmmm.......TEHRAN, 2013, Jan. 31 -- The President of Iran Space Agency (ISA) says Iran will launch Nahid, Qaem, and Fajr satellites on February 2nd 2013, the anniversary of Iran’s National Space Technology Day. In a press conference, Hamid Fazeli, ISA president pointed to plans by Iran Space Agency for National Space Technology Day and said; “The President will inaugurate Iranian achievements in space, science and technology on National Space Technology Day.” He announced the launching of Nahid satellite during days of Fajr ceremonies and added: “Launching Engineering samples of Qaem, and Fajr satellites projects have been planned by the end of the next week.”

Fazeli answered Mehr News reporter’s question on launching SharifSat satellite by the end of the current Iranian New year (21th of March), saying that “SharifSat, manufactured by students in Sharif University of Technology will be launched, in addition to AUTSat, by Amir Kabir University of Technology and Zafar satellite into space by Simorgh rocket launcher, and will be operational by early June.” Fazeli asserted that “Toloo satellite will also be launched into space by Simorgh rocket launcher in the near future.”

TEHRAN, 2013, Februray 02 -- The President of Iran’s Space Agency (ISA) says Iranian Nahid satellite will be unveiled in February, 2nd 2013, Iran’s National Space Technology Day. The ISA would launch Nahid by Safir-1B rocket launcher to space. Fazeli pointed to Nahid’s main feature as being imaging. “Nahid is the only satellite with folding solar panels,” he added. “All Iranian made satellites had panels fixed on themselves. Nahid’s panels provide folding capability,” he asserted. He maintained that technology used in Nahid was unique, and that Nahid would have a perigee of 250 km, and an apogee of 370 km.

TEHRAN, 2013, February 28 -- Chancellor of Iran's Amirkabir University Alireza Rahayee announced Tehran is preparing to put a new home-made satellite, called Nahid , into orbit in the next four months. He said that Nahid is among those satellites which need more modern launchers, and Simorgh satellite launch platform is now being prepared to this end. He added that Nahid will be sent to the space on the back of Safir-B carrier (not clear: Safir-1B or Simorgh).