'Axes of Nuclear evil' - Iran Tested a Ballistic Missile With North Korean Origins: Pentagon.

The 'Mushroom cloud heads'

'Axes of Nuclear evil' - Iran Tested a Ballistic Missile With North Korean Origins: Pentagon. (popularMechanics).

A ballistic missile launched by Iran on Sunday was North Korean in construction or design, according to the Pentagon. The missile test, which ended in failure, was not a violation of 2015's Iranian nuclear deal, but arguably was in violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution. Either way, this latest test could set Iran on a collision course with the Trump Administration, which has promised to take a hard line on Iran.

According to Reuters, the missile traveled 630 miles before it exploded, either by accident or by design.

As pointed out by arms control expert Jeffrey Lewis on Twitter, the Pentagon identified the July 2016 missile as a locally produced version of the Musudan, a North Korean intermediate-range missile. Also known as the Hwasong-10, the missile is allegedly derived from an obsolete Soviet Cold War missile, the R-27 Zyb.

The Musudan has been adapted from a submarine-launched missile to a road-mobile missile, and is launched from 12-wheeled heavy transporters. The missile has a payload of 2,000 to 2,500 pounds and a theoretical maximum range of 2,500 miles.


Missile tests are not covered by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 multinational agreement that effectively ended Iran's nuclear weapons program. However, Iran is prohibited from testing ballistic missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead under U.N. Resolution 2331. The Resolution specifically calls on Iran not to test any ballistic missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, or using ballistic missile technology, for eight years after the signing of the JCPOA, or after the International Atomic Energy Commission has determined Iran has lived up to its end of the deal. Hmmm....If North Korea has a functioning Miniaturized Nuclear warhead, then Iran has one as well....PERIOD! (See Below Related).Read the full story here.

Related:

North Korea has effective means of delivering nuclear weapons, their missile program is "close to the one developed in Iran" Russian expert.

"I really suggest that we start behaving like North Korea does have a nuclear warhead.": Senior researcher at Center for nonproliferation studies.

"I really suggest that we start behaving like North Korea does have a nuclear warhead.": Senior researcher at Center for nonproliferation studies.

"I really suggest that we start behaving like North Korea does have a nuclear warhead.": Senior researcher at Center for nonproliferation studies. (Popsci).

In September 2016, experts warned that North Korea would have a working intercontinental nuclear missile by 2020. Between now and then, we’ve been in a period of uncertainty: North Korea may test a missile that may be capable of carrying a warhead that may be miniaturized enough to fit inside the missile.

“The language I often use is—as a scientist officially—no we don’t know if they have a warhead. They may, or they may not. We don’t have enough evidence,” says Melissa Hanham, a senior researcher at the James Martin Center for nonproliferation studies. “That being said, as a policymaker, I really suggest that we start behaving like they do.”

The evidence Melissa cites is not trivial: North Korea’s conducted five nuclear tests, with the most recent one just over a year ago. North Korea’s state-run paper published a picture of their dictator Kim Jong-un standing in front of a faceted silver sphere, which almost resembles a disco ball.

“We can’t see what’s inside that object, but we can view other things, we can take measurements, and we can make estimates of the weight and that kind of thing. That silver disco ball definitely fits into the payload of an ICBM or other shorter-range missiles too,” Hanham continued, “but whether it’s real or not is not something we can determine from pictures alone.”


Ballistic missiles are the main way countries threaten each other with nuclear weapons, but they’re not the only way. The only atomic bombs ever used in war were carried by bombers, but bombers come with several limitations. They have to fly close to the target to release the bombs, and they can be shot down by fighters and other anti-air weapons en route.

Submarines, instead, can carry missiles secretly under the sea, and then launch their deadly payload without warning. North Korea is currently pursuing a submarine-launched ballistic missile, which went from a spectacular failure of a test in December 2015 to a modestly successful 300-mile flight in a test in August 2016.

Joshua Pollack, editor of the Washington-based Nonproliferation Review, told The World Weekly that the North made two key technical advances in 2016. 

The first was a static test of a heat shield, a component designed to protect the nuclear warhead on the missile’s reentry into the atmosphere. 

The second was a static test of the first stage of a KN-08 mobile ICBM. According to Mr. Pollack, both tests (which were broadcast to the world) seemed “designed to correct common misconceptions in the West about North Korean ICBM technology.”

Because ballistic missiles leave the atmosphere before returning to hit their targets on earth, a working heatshield is vital to make sure that the nuclear payload survives the journey intact.
“What they haven’t done yet is test the vibrations on a dummy warhead,” explained Hanham. “And so, that’s probably going to be a component of their flight testing. They need to make sure—because the warhead itself will be somewhat delicate—that it isn’t shaken to pieces before it arrives at its destination.”


In addition, North Korea will likely want to make sure it has a working guidance system, so the missile can hit where it’s aimed. Unless, that is, North Korea sees value in the missile standing alone as a sort of terror threat, where the uncertainty about where it falls is sufficient for protecting the country from attack. Hmmm............They could ask Iran to do a few tests .Read the full story here.

Video - 'Peacefull & Moderate' Iran showing off it's Underground Silo based launchers in new video.

Iran’s military recently publicized a third underground missile facility and showed the launch of a new ballistic missile through the top of a mountain. Read the full story here.

Putin: 'I'll see you and raise you' - 40+ ICBMs targeted for 2015 nuclear force boost

Putin: 'I'll see you and raise you' - 40+ ICBMs targeted for 2015 nuclear force boost. (RT).

Over 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles will be delivered to Russia’s strategic forces in 2015, President Vladimir Putin announced at the opening ceremony of the Army-2015 Expo, an international military forum held near Moscow.

“This year, our nuclear forces are going to get more than 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of penetrating all existing, even the most advanced missile defenses,” the Russian president said, adding that the state would persist in paying specific attention to realization of a massive military rearmament program and modernization of the defense industry, Putin said.

Vladimir Putin also said that tests of a new radar station capable of beyond-the-horizon aerial target detection will start soon in Russia. The system will be directed westward. A similar radar station is also due to be deployed eastward. And in April a new radar station started operations in the city of Armavir, in southern Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov says that NATO is provoking Russia into an arms race. Antonov’s statement was made referring to US plans to put its F-22 jets in Eastern Europe.

“I believe the statement must be looked at together with other similar statements, which have recently been numerous,” the deputy defense minister said. “A few days ago, reports started to turn up about certain [American] missiles put in a certain location and about certain ammunition depots in Eastern European countries and the Baltic. It looks like our colleagues from NATO member states are pushing us into an arms race,” he said. Hmmm.....And we're off at the Nuclear races.

"CHANGE" - China confirms new generation ICBMbwhich can carry multiple nuclear warheads that can target US

DF-41 spotted on the road.

"CHANGE" - China confirms new generation ICBM which can carry multiple nuclear warheads that can target US. (SMH).

Beijing: China has acknowledged the existence of a new intercontinental ballistic missile said to be capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads as far as the United States, state-run media reports.

A government environmental monitoring centre in Shaanxi said on its website that a military facility in the province was developing Dongfeng-41 (DF-41) missiles, the Global Times reported.

The DF-41 is designed to have a range of 12,000 kilometres, according to a report by Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems, putting it among the world's longest-range missiles.

It is "possibly capable of carrying multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles", the US Defence Department said in a report in June, referring to a payload of several nuclear warheads.

China's military is highly secretive, and the Global Times said it had not previously acknowledged the existence of the DF-41. The original government web post appeared to have been deleted on Friday, but the newspaper posted a screengrab. It also quoted a Chinese military analyst as saying: "As the US continues to strengthen its missile defence system, developing third generation nuclear weapons capable of carrying multiple warheads is the trend."Read the full story here.

Related:

DF-41 missile can wipe out 3 US cities in one attack: report

Iran to Launch Home-Made S-300 Air-Defense Shield in Two Years.

Iran to Launch Home-Made S-300 Air-Defense Shield in Two Years.(Fars).

Iran’s top air defense commander announced on Saturday that the country would launch Bavar (Belief) 373 missile defense system – the Iranian version of the sophisticated S-300 long-range air-defense missile shield – in the next two years.

Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli told FNA that bottleneck problems for the construction of Bavar 373 infrastructures have been resolved, adding that development and construction of the highly advanced anti-missile defense system would be accomplished by the end of Iran’s Fifth Five-Year Development Plan (2010-2015).

“We hope to witness a very good system with higher capabilities than the (Russian) S-300 in our air defense structure by the end of the (Development) Plan”, added the General.

The air defense commander reiterated that “the indigenized system will be more powerful than S-300 missile system”.

Another senior Iranian military commander announced last May that the country would soon unveil the home-made long-range air-defense missile system which is similar to the Russian S-300.

“This system, dubbed as Bavar 373, is being developed in the country and will be officially unveiled soon,” Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Army’s Self-Sufficiency Jihad Rear Admiral Farhad Amiri said in May, 2013.

He noted that the Bavar-373 missile defense system has reached the production stage and its subsystems have been already tested.

In 2007, Iran signed a contract worth $800mln to buy five Russian S-300 missile defense systems.

But the deal was scrapped in 2010 by then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who was unilaterally expanding on sanctions against Iran imposed by the UN Security Council.

Iran filed a $4bln lawsuit against Russia in the international arbitration court in Geneva, which is currently pending review.

Moscow has struggled to have the lawsuit dropped, including by offering the Tor anti-aircraft systems as replacement, media reported in December, adding that the offer was rejected by Tehran.

The Russian version of the missile shield can trace around 100 flying targets simultaneously and destroy a part of them, while the Iranian version is said to be enjoying a higher targeting capability among its other optimized features.

Iran has also optimized the S-200 missile defense system. Mobility and a narrower ready-for-operation time is among the features of the optimized version.Hmmmm.....'Peaceful, moderate Iran.'

Iran’s Armed Forces chief of staff: “We are ready for the decisive war with the US and the Zionist regime [of Israel],”

Iran’s Armed Forces chief of staff: “We are ready for the decisive war with the US and the Zionist regime [of Israel],”(PressTv).

Iran’s Armed Forces chief of staff has dismissed US officials’ threats of military action against Iran as “political bluff”, saying the Islamic Republic is ready for the “decisive” battle against the US and Israel.

“We are ready for the decisive war with the US and the Zionist regime [of Israel],” said Major General Hassan Firouzabadi on Wednesday.

Iran has been planning for such a battle for years by carrying out various drills, he said, stressing that Iran’s Armed Forces are prepared to fend off any military aggression.

The top commander warned that in case of aggression against Iran, all the US and Israeli interests will be targeted, “We warn that if our forces come under attack from any territory, we will hit all the positions which belong to that [territory],” Firouzabadi said.

He said Iran harbors no hostility towards any of the countries in the region, but “if we are attacked from US bases in the region, we will target that place.”

The senior commander made the remarks in reaction to US officials’ threats in recent weeks that all options, including the military one, are on the table against Iran.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also said on Tuesday that the rhetoric of threat against the Iranian nation is “worthless and childish.”


“On behalf of the nation of Iran, I declare with a clear voice that threatening the nation of Iran is worthless and childish since our nation has, over the past 35 years, stood up to various threats from the enemy and been victorious,” the president said in an address to a massive gathering of people celebrating the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Tehran on Tuesday.

Iran says it won't respond to alleged studies & claims from IAEA not backed by authentic documents.

Iran says it won't respond to alleged studies and claims from IAEA not backed by authentic documents.(Taz).

Iran will not accept any claim from IAEA unless the claim to be specified in a document, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Ali Akbar Salehi said, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on Feb. 12.

Salehi went on to add that the documents should specify the basis for the charges.

"Iran has informed IAEA that it cannot accuse the country of something, based on sheets, which were submitted by some people," Salehi said.

"The authenticity of the document should be proved first, otherwise Iran will not talk with the IAEA," he said. "It will be a wrong approach, if the IAEA submits a new baseless document every day and claim that Iran is doing something suspicious."

On August 27, 2007 the IAEA and Iran agreed upon a workplan for addressing allegations surrounding two sets of documents that suggest that Iran had run a covert nuclear weapons research program for years.

One document is the so-called "Uranium Metal" document. The other documents - collectively known as the "alleged studies" - were produced by western intelligence agencies in late 2005.

Commenting on the recent negotiations with IAEA Salehi said that the two sides have agreed on seven more practical steps, five of which are within the framework of the Geneva nuclear deal.

He did not reveal any details about the other two steps.Hmmmm.....As i said many times before A "Turkish bazaar backroom deal."

Pres. Rouhani: "Rhetoric of threat against Iran worthless"

Pres. Rouhani: "Rhetoric of threat against Iran worthless" (PressTv).

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the rhetoric of threat against the Iranian nation is “worthless and childish.”

Addressing a massive gathering of people celebrating the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Tehran on Tuesday, Rouhani said, “On behalf of the nation of Iran, I declare with a clear voice that threatening the nation of Iran is worthless and childish since our nation has, over the past 35 years, resisted against various threats from the enemy and achieved victory.”

“I say to the P5+1 countries that nuclear negotiations are a historic test for Europe and the United States. Should they proceed within the framework of law, the rights of the nation of Iran, common interests, mutual respect, interaction, and cooperation in the nuclear negotiations, they will receive a positive and proper response from Iran,” President Rouhani said.

“But, if they seek to repeat the improper and wrongful manners of the past, they should know that they have taken steps to the detriment of their own nation, the region, global welfare and stability…,” the Iranian president added.

On Tuesday, millions of people participated in nationwide demonstrations in the country to mark the Islamic Revolution’s victory, which put an end to the monarchical rule of the US-backed Pahlavi regime.

By attending the rallies, the demonstrators reaffirmed their allegiance to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic.

Also attending the rallies was Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who told Press TV, “There may be quarters in various parts of the world that have difficulties with the Iranian nation, but these (Iranians) are peace-loving people… they present no threat, but they want to determine their own destiny.”

“If people are not used to Iranians’ determining their destiny, if people are not used to nations’ standing up for their rights, then they’d better get used to it, because I think this huge participation and presence of the Iranian people cannot be put down through rhetoric and pressure,” Zarif added.


In response to a question about the impact of the millions-strong presence of the people on the streets in support of the Islamic Revolution on the nuclear talks, the Iranian foreign minister said, “It encourages us to continue to insist on the rights of these people and, at the same time, to try to remove all obstacles to constructive interaction with the rest of the world.”

'OVERRULED" - Reports circulating describe Iran's president attempted to halt or suspend ballistic missile launch.

Rainy MRBM launch, a liquid-fueled MRBM closely resembling Shahab-3/Ghadir series of ballistic missiles

'OVERRULED" - Reports circulating describe Iran's president attempted to halt or suspend ballistic missile launch.HT: UskowiOnIran.

More pictures at Uskowi On Iran.

Related:

'Moderate' Iran test-fires new generation of laser-guided, ballistic missiles.

Video - Senator Menendez remarks on negotiations with Iranian regime.

Video - Senator Menendez remarks on negotiations with Iranian regime.HT: NCRI.

'Moderate' Iran test-fires new generation of laser-guided, ballistic missiles.

'Moderate' Iran test-fires new generation of laser-guided, ballistic missiles.(Taz).

The Iranian Defense Ministry announced on Monday that it has successfully tested two new missiles, including a laser-guided surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missile and a new generation of long-range ballistic missiles carrying Multiple Reentry Vehicle payloads, Fars News reported.

The ministry said it has successfully tested a new generation of long-range ballistic missiles with Multiple Reentry Vehicle payloads and a laser-guided air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile named Bina.
The missiles were test-fired on the eve of the 35th anniversary of the victory of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution to mark the occassion.

Speaking during the ceremony, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan noted that Bina missile is laser-guided and can be fired from aircraft and different ground launch platforms.

"This missile (Bina) is capable of precisely hitting important targets, including bridges, tanks, military hardware and command centers of enemies," the Iranian defense minister said.

He enumerated the high-speed in destroying the targets, easy maintenance and high-speed of operation as specifications of Bina missile.

The minister further noted Iran's newly developed ballistic missile with MRV payload, and said it has been designed and produced for destroying enemy's military hardware and all types of enemy military equipment.
"Evading enemy's anti-missile defense systems, the capability of destroying massive targets and destroying multiple targets are specifications of this missile," the Iranian defense minister said, but did not name the new weapon.

Iranian Defense Minister Warns of Iran’s Inconceivable Response to Threats.

Iranian Defense Minister Warns of Iran’s Inconceivable Response to Threats.(Fars).

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan underlined that the Iranian Armed Forces will give an inconceivable response to any possible enemy aggression, adding that the threatening remarks of the US officials cannot prevent the country from continuing its nuclear fuel production.

“The Iranian Armed Forces are an intertwined and coherent complex which can give a decisive response to any threat at any level and any place under the command of the Commander-in-Chief (Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei),” Dehqan said in Tehran on Sunday, addressing the defense ministry personnel on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

Blasting the recent military threats of a number of the US officials against Iran, he said, “The enemy can never assess and think of the range of the response given by the powerful and mighty Armed Forces of the Islamic Iran.”

Dehqan said that the enemies threaten Iran militarily to prevent the country’s progress in using nuclear technology, but they should know that “Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution (Ayatollah Khamenei) and the brave and resistance nation of the Islamic Iran will never allow the country’s nuclear fuel production cycle come to a halt”.

In relevant remarks, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in crucial remarks on Saturday dismissed compromise with the US, saying Washington is pursuing a hypocritical approach towards Iran and has aimed at the nation’s independence.

“The propaganda apparatus of the hegemonic powers and their internal elements are attempting to pretend that reliance on national interests and identity doesn’t conform with progress and if a country wants to make progress, it should, thus, reduce its desire for independence,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, addressing a large number of Air Force commanders and personnel in Tehran.

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that independence doesn’t mean treating others with bad temper or sulking, and said, “Independence is a dam against the influence of those countries which intend to overshadow nations’ interests for the sake of their own interests.”

“The tactics and methods can be changed, but principles and basics should remain strong and this is the secret of Iran’s strength and progress,” he added.

He also blasted the US officials for their military threats against Iran despite international efforts and talks to settle the dispute between Tehran and the West over the country’s nuclear program, and said, “The Iranian nation should pay attention to the recent negotiations and the rude remarks of the Americans so that everyone gets to know the enemy well.”

“The Americans speak in their private meetings with our officials in one way, and they speak differently outside these meetings; this is hypocrisy and the bad and evil will of the enemy and the nation should observe all these cases precisely,” Ayatollah Khamenei stressed.

Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami warned that the slightest military move by the US will be reciprocated by Iran’s harshest response, underlining that Iran’s reaction would “recognize no boundary”.Hmmmm....Perhaps the U.S. pres can send the IRS?

'Moderate' Iran says will not negotiate 'Intercontinental' Ballistic missile program.

'Moderate' Iran says will not negotiate 'Intercontinental' Ballistic missile program.(Taz).

Iran's ballistic missile program will not be discussed in nuclear negotiations with world powers, the deputy foreign minister said in statements published Monday.

The remarks by Abbas Araqchi, who is also Iran's lead negotiator in talks with world powers, came a week before negotiations were to resume on a comprehensive accord over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

"Iran's defence-related issues are not up for negotiations," Araqchi said, according to media reports."We will not discuss any issue other than the nuclear dossier in the negotiations," he added.

US lead negotiator in the talks, Wendy Sherman, last week told a Senate hearing that Iran's ballistic missile program would be addressed in the comprehensive deal.

"The defence-related issues are a red line for Iran. We will not allow such issues to be discussed in future talks," said Araqchi.

Western nations and Israel have long suspected Iran of covertly pursuing nuclear weapons alongside its civilian programme, allegations denied by Tehran.

Tehran insists its programme -- boasting long-range missiles with a maximum range of 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles), enough to reach Israel -- is an integral part of its defence doctrine.

It also denies ever seeking atomic weapons, saying its nuclear activities are for peaceful medical and energy purposes.Hmmm.....You don't need ICBM's for targeting Israel, you need them for AMERICA!

Related:  

Clapper: "Iran Able to Build Missile-Deliverable Nuclear Weapons, if It Chooses to Do So." 

IRGC Denies ballistic missile range 

Iran's Simorgh satellite carrier under construction, planned to be launched soon......can you spell ICBM? 

Report: Iran has new rocket site, ballistic missile tests possible. 

New Iran ballistic & cruise missile reporting from NASIC. 

Iran 'moving nuclear research center to hoodwink world' .

Iran 'moving nuclear research center to hoodwink world'.(CNR).

PARIS (AFP) -- An exiled opposition group claimed Thursday that Iran has transferred a research center leading its alleged attempt to develop nuclear weapons to a new location in order to hoodwink the world.

"In order to hide its nuclear activities, the Iranian regime is currently in the process of a vast operation moving the center responsible for research and planning of the military nuclear project," Mehdi Abrishamachi of the National Council of Resistance of Iran told a press conference in Paris.

According to the opposition group, which has made significant revelations about Iran's nuclear program in the past, the bulk of the center's activities have been moved from a defense ministry property in the east of Tehran to a new site around two miles away.

Those activities left at the first site could all be regarded as of dual-use - related to either civil or military uses of nuclear technology - enabling the regime to disguise their military nature in the event of inspection, according to the NCRI.

"The transfer started at the beginning of September and is not finished but the essential has been done," Abrishamachi said.

The NCRI said it had submitted its information, including a list of 100 alleged employees of the center, to the International Atomic Energy Agency on Wednesday.

Iran denies seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capacity and has said it wants to sign a nuclear proliferation accord with the West. Negotiations on the subject between Tehran, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, are due to resume next week in Geneva.
The talks will be the first since the election in June of new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Iranian dissidents say Tehran moving nuclear research site.

Iranian dissidents say Tehran moving nuclear research site.(AA).

An exiled Iranian opposition group said on Thursday it had information about what it said was a center for nuclear weaponization research in Tehran that the government was moving to avoid detection ahead of negotiations with world powers.

The dissident National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) exposed Iran’s uranium enrichment facility at Natanz and a heavy water facility at Arak in 2002. But analysts say it has a chequered track record and a clear political agenda.

An accusation it made in July about a secret underground nuclear site under construction in Iran draw a cautious international response, with France merely saying it would look into it.

The Islamic Republic says its nuclear energy program is entirely peaceful and rejects U.S. and Israeli accusations that it is seeking the capability to make nuclear weapons.
The NCRI’s latest allegation comes just a few days before Iran and six major powers are to meet in Geneva to try to end years of deadlock in a dispute over the Islamic state’s nuclear program.
The election of Hassan Rowhani, a relative moderate, as new Iranian president has raised hopes of progress towards a negotiated settlement of the decade-old nuclear row.

The Paris-based NCRI, citing information from sources inside Iran, said a nuclear weaponization research and planning center it called SPND was being moved to a large, secure site in a defense ministry complex in Tehran about 1.5 km (1 mile) away from its former location.

It said the center employed about 100 researchers, engineers and experts and handled small-scale experiments with radioactive material and was in charge of research into the weaponization of nuclear weapons.


“There is a link between this transfer and the date of Geneva (talks) because the regime needed to avoid the risk of visits by (U.N. nuclear) inspectors,” Mehdi Abrichamtchi, who compiled the report for the NCRI, told a news conference.

Commander of IRGC: "Iran has technologies for production of intercontinental ballistic missiles, but does not see any need in it."

Commander of IRGC: "Iran has technologies for production of intercontinental ballistic missiles, but does not see any need in it."(Taz).

Iran has the capabilities and technologies for the production of intercontinental ballistic missiles, but does not see any need for their production, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Division Amir Ali Hajizadeh said, FARS agency reported.

During a speech in Mashhad, Hajizadeh said that at the moment Iran has the technology of production of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
"We were able to send a satellite into orbit, because we have this technology . But since Iran's enemies are not far from the border, we do not consider it necessary to face high costs and build such missiles," Hajizadeh said.

Hajizadeh said that Iran's drones, including Shahed129 are able to reach Israel.
Two weeks ago, during the parade of the Armed Forces, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps ( IRGC ) demonstrated Shahed129 UAV for the first time.

North Korea plans new nuclear test, threatens to target US.

North Korea plans new nuclear test, threatens to target US.(RT).North Korea has announced it's about to carry out a third nuclear test and more long-range rocket launches, which it says are designed to target the United States.
­"We are not disguising the fact that the various satellites and long-range rockets that we will fire and the high-level nuclear test we will carry out are aimed at the United States," North Korea's National Defense Commission says.
Pyongyang now threatens to wage a “fully-fledged confrontation'' against the US for what they call continued hostility.
The declaration follows the UN Security Council's condemnation of North Korea on Tuesday and expanded sanctions against the regime for launching a rocket in December. North Korea has always claimed the launch was a peaceful satellite mission, but the US and others say it was actually a test of long-range missile technology.
In the face of what it considers to be a US threat, North Korea “will take steps for physical counteraction to bolster the military capabilities for self-defense, including the nuclear deterrence, both qualitatively and quantitatively,'' the country's Foreign Ministry warned in a statement.
Japan states North Korea does not yet have the technology to create compact nuclear warheads, but its missiles are already advanced enough to reach the US West Coast. The latest report published by Japanese observers, states the North Korean missile program has attained a new high and poses a grave threat.
The North was banned from developing missile and nuclear technology under sanctions dating from its 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests. First tests used plutonium, were detonated underground and had limited success. This time around, the international concern is that Pyongyang may use highly-enriched uranium and get better results.
North Korea does not give a time-frame of when they intend to undertake the threatened nuclear test.
The US has already called on the North to not carry out its third test.
"We hope they don't do it. We call on them not to do it," Glyn Davies, the top US envoy for North Korea said.
The latest UN Security Council resolution demands North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons program in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible manner," as well as Pyongyang cease rocket launches. The North insists its rocket launches are purely peaceful.
The December 12 ‘satellite’ rocket launch has been celebrated as a great triumph in North Korea. The scientists involved have been treated like heroes ever since. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un mentioned the launch in his New Year's Day speech laying out the country's main policies and goals for the year. Banners hailing the event were posted on buildings across the capital.
The US, however, is not buying into the ‘satellite’ story, considering such launches covert tests of ballistic missile technology since satellite launches and long-range missile launches have similar firing mechanisms. As if to confirm that suspicion, North Korea showed off what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile at a military parade last April.Read the full story here.

"FLEXIBILITY" -Russia continues ICBM upgrades.

"FLEXIBILITY" -Russia continues ICBM upgrades.(Janes).By David C Isby.Russia's 54th Guards Missile Division, headquartered at Teykovo in Ivanovo oblast, is to be re-equipped with its final batch of new Yars mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) by the end of August, according to Major General Sergei Siver, Commander of Russia's 27th Guards Missile Army. In a 7 June interview on Rossiya-24 television, Maj Siver also said the 60th Missile Division, headquartered at Tatishchevo, Saratov oblast, is completing the re-equipment of its sixth missile regiment with the Topol-M ICBM. Earlier, Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF) spokesman Colonel Vadim Koval had announced that the 29th Missile Division, headquartered at Irkutsk, was preparing to start conversion from its Topol (SS-25 'Sickle) missiles to the Yars.Hmmmm........."CHANGED".Read the full story here.

Failed Russian ICBM crosses Azerbaijan, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

Failed Russian ICBM crosses Azerbaijan, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.HT: IsraelMatzav.Around 8:45 on Thursday night, there was a glow in the skies over Israel. This UFO was not a Martian spaceship, but it probably was a Russian ICBM.Later Thursday, Russian news agency Novosti quoted the Defense Ministry in Moscow, which confirmed that a missile was test-fired from the Astrakhan region in central Russia. The trail of light seen in Israel was also reported in Armenia, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Jordan and other countries in the region.

According to a statement issued by Russia's Defense Ministry, crews belonging to the army's strategic missile division successfully test-fired a ballistic missile at 9:39 pm, Moscow time. A video shot in the area the missile was fired from showed parts of the missile falling. However, the clip was removed a few minutes after being posted.

Israeli Astronomical Association Chairman Dr. Yigal Pat-El said that it is quite possible that the unidentified flying object reported by residents nationwide was a ballistic missile test.

"It most likely spun out of control and its remnants and the fuel was what people saw. It reached a height of 200-300 kilometers and that's why it was seen from so many locations," he told Ynet.

"We saw a large trail of light traveling from a distant spot in the sky," Dorit from northern Israel reported earlier. "We could not see the source of the light. The trail was massive. It was an unusual sight. Moments later we saw swirling movement where the light was coming from."

Concerned citizens in Armenia and Lebanon also called their local police stations after seeing the unusual glowing light. One Lebanese citizen reported seeing the light in the sky and in response an American web-surfer said it might be a military test. The Lebanese woman laughingly responded with: "A military test? Here?"Read the full story here.