Iran: "Our target is Israel and we don’t need missiles with a range of more than 2,000km."

Iran: "Our target is Israel and we don’t need missiles with a range of more than 2,000km." (Fars).

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh announced Iran's plans to supply the IRGC forces with a large number of various types of Zolfaqar missiles.

"The new Zolfaqar missile is being supplied to the IRGC Aerospace Force and a large number of this missile will be supplied to our units by the yearend," General Hajizadeh told FNA on Tuesday.

Asked if Iran has any plans to develop missiles to hit targets more than 2,000km in range, he said, "Our target is Israel and we don’t need missiles with a range of more than 2,000km."

Iran on Sunday started mass-production of home-made Zolfaqar missile that can destroy targets in distances up to 700km in range with a zero margin of error.

The production line of Zolfaqar was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan and General Hajizadeh.

Zolfaqar, the latest generation of Iran's mid-range missiles, was unveiled during the nationwide parades of Armed Forces on Wednesday.

Iran has made giant advancements in developing long-range missiles in recent years.

The IRGC fired 2 home-made 'Qadr H' ballistic missiles from the Eastern Alborz Mountains at a target in Iran's Southeastern Makran seashore some 1,400km away in March.

The missiles were fired on the sidelines of the main stage of the IRGC drills in Central Iran and various parts of the country.

One missile had a message written on it that said in Hebrew: "Israel should be wiped off the Earth".

Qadr is a 2000km-range, liquid-fuel and ballistic missile which can reach territories as far as Israel.

Improved warhead designs allow smaller warheads for a given yield, while better electronics and guidance systems allowed greater accuracy. As a result MIRV technology has proven more attractive than MRV for advanced nations. 

Because of the larger amount of nuclear material consumed by MRVs and MIRVs, single warhead missiles are more attractive for nations with less advanced technology.

The United States deployed an MRV payload on the Polaris A-3. The Soviet Union deployed MRVs on the SS-9 Mod 4 ICBM. Hmmmm.........'Because of the larger amount of nuclear material'?

North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un orders nuclear warhead test.

North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un orders nuclear warhead test. (Yahoo).

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has ordered an upcoming nuclear warhead test and multiple ballistic missile launches, escalating Pyongyang's face-off with the international community just days after being slapped with tough UN sanctions.

The order came after Kim monitored what was described as the successful simulated test of the warhead re-entry technology required for a long-range nuclear strike on the US mainland, the North's official KCNA news agency said Tuesday.

According to KCNA, the proposed tests are the result of years of development and "diligent research" into heat-resistant materials and technology. Kim Jong Un guided an "environmental simulation for re-entry by the warhead tip," the report said. 

In order to boost the reliability of the nation's nuclear deterrent still further, Kim said a nuclear warhead explosion test and firings of "several kinds" of ballistic rockets would be carried out "in a short time". 

 "He instructed the relevant section to make pre-arrangement for them to the last detail," KCNA said. The order came days after state media released photos of Kim posing with what was claimed to be a miniaturised nuclear warhead capable of fitting on a ballistic missile.

Meeting with her cabinet ministers on Tuesday, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye said North Korea's endless threats reflected a "sense of crisis" in Pyongyang at its increasing diplomatic and economic isolation.

"If North Korea continues its provocations and confrontation with the international community and does not walk the path of change, it will walk the path of self-destruction," Park said.

Protected by "newly developed heat-resisting material" the warhead was reportedly subjected to thermal flows five times hotter than those associated with ICBM flight. The test was a complete success, the agency said, and provided a "sure guarantee" of the warhead's ability to withstand re-entry -- a major step in the North's push towards a genuine ICBM nuclear strike capability.

South Korea's defence ministry said it was sceptical of the claim. "According to our military analysis, North Korea has not yet secured re-entry technology," ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Gyun told reporters.

North Korea has never tested an ICBM, although it has displayed such a missile, known as the KN-08, during recent mass military parades in Pyongyang.

"It seems highly likely that North Korea is on the verge of conducting a long-range ballistic missile test, involving re-entry," said Chang Yong-Seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University "It wants to show that sanctions are not effective and to boost the credibility of its deterrent," Chang said. Hmmm..........Admiral Bill Gortney: "prudent" to assume North Korea could miniaturize a warhead and put it on an ICBM targeting the US.. Read the full story here, more here.

Admiral Bill Gortney: "prudent" to assume North Korea could miniaturize a warhead and put it on an ICBM targeting the US.

Admiral Bill Gortney: "prudent" to assume North Korea could miniaturize a warhead and put it on an ICBM targeting the US. (AlAhram).

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched a ballistic missile launch test and ordered the country to improve its nuclear attack capability by conducting more tests, the official KCNA news agency reported on Friday.


The report did not say when the test took place but it was likely referring to North Korea's launch of two short-range missiles on Thursday that flew 500 km (300 miles) and splashed into the sea.

"Dear comrade Kim Jong Un said work ... must be strengthened to improve nuclear attack capability and issued combat tasks to continue nuclear explosion tests to assess the power of newly developed nuclear warheads and tests to improve nuclear attack capability," KCNA said.

The North Korean leader was quoted in state media earlier in the week as saying his country had miniaturized nuclear warheads to mount on ballistic missiles.

Tensions have risen sharply on the Korean peninsula after the North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and fired a long-range rocket last month leading to the U.N. Security Council to adopt a new sanctions resolution.

Conducting more nuclear tests would be in clear violation of U.N. sanctions which also ban ballistic missile tests, although Pyongyang has rejected them. North Korea has a large stockpile of short-range missiles and is developing long-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said: "It's simply rash and thoughtless behavior by someone who has no idea how the world works," when asked about Kim's comments.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Pyongyang to "cease destabilizing acts," adding that Ban remained "gravely concerned" by the situation.

In China, North Korea's most important economic and diplomatic backer, the country's top newspaper, the People's Daily, urged all sides to be "patient and brave", show goodwill and resume the talks process.

South Korea said it did not believe that North Korea had successfully miniaturized a nuclear warhead or deployed a functioning intercontinental ballistic missile.

The U.S. Defence Department said this week it had seen no evidence that North Korea had succeeded in miniaturizing a warhead.

However, Admiral Bill Gortney, the officer responsible for defending U.S. air space, told a U.S. Senate panel on Thursday it was "prudent" for him to assume North Korea could both miniaturize a warhead and put it on an ICBM that could target the United States.

"Intel community gives it a very low probability of success, but I do not believe the American people want (me) to base my readiness assessment on a low probability," he said.

North Korea: 'We have Mini Nuke Warheads' display photo of Kim Jong Un with a purported mini-nuke.

North Korea: 'We have Mini Nuke Warheads' display photo of Kim Jong Un with a purported mini-nuke.(NApo).

Republic Of — North Korea caused a new stir Wednesday by publicizing a purported mock-up of a key part of a nuclear warhead, with leader Kim Jong Un saying his country has developed miniaturized atomic bombs that can be placed on missiles.

The North’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper carried photos on its front page showing Kim and nuclear scientists standing beside what outside analysts say appears to be a model warhead part — a small, silverish globe with a ballistic missile or a model ballistic missile in the background.

The newspaper said Kim met his nuclear scientists for a briefing on the status of their work and declared he was greatly pleased that warheads had been standardized and miniaturized for use on ballistic missiles.

Information from secretive, authoritarian North Korea is often impossible to confirm and the country’s state media have a history of photo manipulations. But it was the first time the North has publicly displayed its purported nuclear designs, though it remains unclear whether the country has functioning warheads of that size or is simply trying to develop one.

South Korea’s Defence Ministry quickly disputed the North’s claim that is possesses miniaturized warheads. It called the photos and miniaturization claim an “intolerable direct challenge” to the international community. Hmmm......So do our ideological 'Death To America' buddies Iran? Read the full story here.

Pakistan plans to deploy small tactical nuclear weapons.

Pakistan plans to deploy small tactical nuclear weapons. (IHLS).

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is coming to the United States next week on an official visit, and the New York Times reports that ahead of the visit the Obama administration is holding talks with Pakistani officials about Pakistan’s plan to deploy a small tactical nuclear weapon which would be more difficult to monitor and secure than Pakistan’s arsenal of larger weapons.

According to Home Land Security News Wire, the White House has not yet commented on the issue.

Experts doubt Pakistan would agree to any limits on its nuclear arsenal. “If Pakistan would take the actions requested by the United States, it would essentially amount to recognition of rehabilitation and would essentially amount to parole,” George Perkovich, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told the Times.

“I think it’s worth a try,” Perkovich added. “But I have my doubts that the Pakistanis are capable of doing this.”

Other officials and outside experts said the main component of the proposed deal would be the loosening of strict controls imposed on Pakistan by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an affiliation of nations that try to control the creation of weapons.

Administration officials have told Congress that most of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is under good safeguards, with warheads separated from delivery vehicles and a series of measures in place to guard against unauthorized use. These officials fear, however, the smaller weapons are easier to steal, or would be easier to use should they fall into the hands of a rogue commander. Read the full story here. More here.

Chief of the NORAD: 'N. Korean nuclear warhead can reach US and ‘Were ready for Kim’.

Chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD): 'N. Korean nuclear warhead can reach US and ‘Were ready for Kim’. (RT).

The chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has warned that North Korea now has sufficient nuclear capacity to attack the US mainland, but claims American air defenses would shoot down any incoming warhead.

“We assess that they have the capability to reach the homeland with a nuclear weapon from a rocket,” Admiral Bill Gortney, the head of NORAD, told an audience during a public event organized by Atlantic Council, a pro-NATO think-tank.

Last month, North Korea’s state news outlets carried a statement saying the country could attack the US “at any time” with a nuclear arsenal that is “improving in quantity and quality.”

The 60 year-old admiral said that regardless of whether the threats were credible or not, they were not likely to endanger ordinary Americans.

“We’re ready for him [Kim Jong-un], and we’re ready 24 hours a day if he should be dumb enough to shoot something at us,” said Gortney. “I’m pretty confident that we’re going to knock down the numbers that are going to be shot.”

The speech came the same day as the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security released a report claiming that Pyongyang has sufficient fissile material for 22 nuclear weapons, namely 34 kilograms of plutonium and 240 kilograms of weapons-grade uranium.

Previous worries about Korea’s nuclear capacity have been allayed by its inability to miniaturize and deliver a nuclear payload. However, the US Missile Defense Agency claimed in March that Kim would be able to launch ballistic rockets powerful enough to reach the US by the end of this year. Hmmmmm.....How much of the 'know how' and abilities have they shared with Obama's BFF Iran? Read the full story here.

Related: Chronology of U.S.-North Korean Nuclear and Missile Diplomacy. 

1985 - 2015 ! 30 YEARS later Guess how long it will take their BFF IRAN? My guess is they do it in less than 10 years.

IAEA detects expanded activities at N. Korea's nuclear facility.

IAEA detects expanded activities at N. Korea's nuclear facility. (Yonhapnews).

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Tuesday his organization has spotted brisk activities at North Korea's main nuclear site.

"We have observed the discharge of water, transportation of equipment to the facility, and some indications of operations of the 5-megawatt reactor," IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano told reporters here, citing the satellite imagery of the Yongbyon nuclear complex.

He was speaking after meetings with top South Korean officials including Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and the top nuclear envoy Hwang Joon-kook.

Amano, however, pointed out that the IAEA's intelligence on the North's nuclear program is limited as it has no inspectors there.

He was also guarded about the possibility of another underground nuclear test by the secretive communist nation, saying it is a matter to be followed by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.

Amano reiterated the IAEA's call for Pyongyang to abide by all of its international obligations under U.N. resolutions and agreements at the six-party talks,

Asked if the IAEA would try to help put pressure on the North, he made clear that its function is to verify the implementation of a nuclear deal, "not to be politically involved."

He stressed that a "political agreement" should be made in advance among major stakeholders, apparently meaning South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia.

The five regional powers are the North's dialogue partners in the now-suspended six-way talks.

"And upon request from member states, the IAEA is ready to play its role," he said. Hmmmm.....I feel another Nuclear Deal coming soon.

Video - North Korean footage during military drills, reportedly 2015

North Korea KN-09 (Russian KH-35 copy) AShM launch footage, reportedly from June 2015. (AsiaDefNews)

Massive military movements spotted near China-N. Korea border, China warning N.Korea 'stop it...or else'.

@rConflictNews: Tank Destroyers Near North Korea's border seen on trains In Yanji #China - @Breaking911 pic.twitter.com/Giz00KiBXS #tcot #ccot

— sleeptalker (@AdamsAncestor) August 24, 2015

Massive military movements spotted near China-N. Korea border.(NKNews).

Military experts see China telling North Korea to halt further inflamations of current tension.

The movements of a mechanical unit at least the size of a brigade were spotted in the city of Yanji, China, in the autonomous region of Yanbian bordering North Korea.

According to pictures released on Chinese blogs, the mechanical units of the People’s Liberation Army were composed of PTZ-89 tank destroyers (Type 89), a PGZ-95 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (Type 95 SPAAA) and 155 mm self-propelled guns.

Pictures were first uploaded on the China-based microblogging service Weibo around Saturday. Despite the sudden and irregular movement of troops, the Chinese government has not confirmed or officially reported on the incident yet.

“The Chinese authorities appear to be censoring posts on the topic of the Yanji deployment by Weibo users and independent bloggers, as well as preventing media coverage of the troop movements,” said NK News China specialist Jennifer Dodgson. “Nevertheless, posts on Chinese internet forums citing overseas Chinese media reports on the matter continue to surface, including on state-owned platforms.”

“From what I know, it is not the first time they have sent units as big as this near the China–North Korea border,” said Kim Min-seok, researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum. “During the bombardment of Yeonpyeong in 2010 and after the purge of Jang Song Thaek in 2013, Chinese units were quickly sent to the area to prevent any unexpected surprises from the China-North Korea border.”

Kim also said that these mechanized units have one purpose, which is “to quickly resolve the inflamed situation by marching in North Korea, if necessary.”

“China’s message is simple: Their units are focused on quickly invading North Korea as fast as they can, suppressing all opponents with the maximum fire power that Chinese mechanized units can provide,” Kim said. “Also, these light-weight mechanized units will survive North Korea’s poor road conditions, which conventional heavy tanks can’t.”

He also noted that China’s PLA has repeatedly trained for crossing the Yalu River many times before, meaning that the Chinese Army would not find it hard to cross the river into North Korea should such an action become necessary.

“That mechanical brigade alone is powerful enough to obliterate the border defenses of North Korea, even before they realize it is coming. But they are certainly not strong enough to stand against the ROK-U.S. joint forces.”

The message, one expert said, is a reply to one the North previously sent China’s way.

“This is no joke, China is sending a very simple message to North Korea,” said Cha Du-hyeogn, the former secretary to President Lee Myung-bak for crisis information. “Back on (Friday), North Korea publicly stated that ‘no country in the world can stop’ North Korea from further escalating the current situation, and that message was directly aimed to tackle China, for them possibly trying to interfere and disrupt the goal that North Korea was trying to achieve from these recent provocations.”

Cha said that this movement is for demonstration purposes only, not for an actual invasion of North Korea.

“These movements are certainly not just for enhancing the border defenses between China and North Korea. Armed police forces are responsible for the China-North Korea border, but these units have nothing to do with border defenses, nor do they belong to the armed police.”

“But China won’t invade North Korea as it would only increase international tension. If there is one thing that China and the U.S. have in common, is that they neither one want to see North Korea become the center of an international incident,” he said. “China’s message is strong and simple: ‘Yes, we can stop you, if necessary.’”

He said, however, that this demonstration was not aimed against the U.S. or South Korea.

“If China really wanted to send a message against South Korea and the U.S., they would have used the navy or air force as weapon of choice, as none of the countries mentioned above share a land border with China. But why would they want to agitate South Korea and the U.S. when North Korea is clearly causing mayhem for the world?” Read the full story here.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says reports of North Korea deploying landing craft are not true.

— Alastair Gale (@AlastairGale) August 24, 2015

#SouthKorea to remove speakers from border with #NorthKorea if tensions ease http://t.co/fc6ld5xvgO pic.twitter.com/h6F4q0Q5ZS

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) August 24, 2015

Reports of North Korea deploying landing craft towards the frontline are not true: http://t.co/CE3fQk1hXh

— NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) August 24, 2015

North Korea Sends 20 Assault Hovercraft to Yellow Sea http://t.co/G1yTYuiS0B

— Hussain (@HussainAlfa) August 24, 2015

North Korea Is Deploying Largest Submarine Fleet Since Korean War http://t.co/1AMSl0wcgb pic.twitter.com/AaY07rN0l7

— Y u no breaking news (@discoveringabot) August 24, 2015

Projections of #NorthKorea’s missile range. pic.twitter.com/ytwkIKvUNU

— Abishur Prakash (@AbishurPrakash) August 24, 2015

The US is ready to send B-52 bombers to South Korea if tensions with North Korea get any worse http://t.co/K0ZLpaS1TP

— Business Insider UK (@BI_Europe) August 24, 2015

#Russia #news If North Korea strikes, the West will shudder http://t.co/tJcm9hylex

— Pravda (@Eng_PravdaRu) August 24, 2015

Below The loudspeakers that started it all.

Seoul Loses Track of Over 50 North Korean Submarines Allegedly Headed for Operations.

Seoul Loses Track of Over 50 North Korean Submarines Allegedly Headed for Operations. (SP).

The South Korean military cannot locate over 50 North Korean submarines which have allegedly set sail from their bases in the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan.

"Seventy percent of North Korea's submarines left their bases, and their locations are not confirmed," a South Korean military source was quoted as saying by Yonhap.

North Korea is known to have a fleet of around 70 submarines.

Earlier, it was reported that the North has also doubled the number of its artillery forces along the border, near the demilitarized zone. The news came just a day the conflicting neighbors held the first round of high-level talks to reduce tensions that escalated earlier this week. Earlier in the day, local media reported that Seoul and Pyongyang would continue the high-level talks later Sunday.

The tensions on the Korean peninsula escalated on Thursday, as North Korea reportedly fired shells at a South Korean military base across the demilitarized zone. Seoul was quick to retaliate with dozens of heavy artillery rounds.

REMINDER: Virtually everything you hear from TV talking heads & MSM "experts" on North Korea is completely wrong: http://t.co/rUKXqSURKV

— John Schindler (@20committee) August 23, 2015

Chinese tank destroyers moving towards N Korea border. pic.twitter.com/6YjSUEHj2H

— WarMonitor (@USCitizen95) August 23, 2015

Korea Preparing For Nuclear War http://t.co/hGat68tzOc. pic.twitter.com/gCUxok3Wdc

— The Real Strategy (@RealStrategyFan) August 23, 2015

North Korea will “retaliate against the US with tremendous muscle” if the US does not cancel the war games - Official.

North Korea will “retaliate against the US with tremendous muscle” if the US does not cancel the war games - Official. (Taz).

North Korea says it will attack the United States if Washington does not cancel the multinational military exercises which are slated to begin on Monday, PressTV reported.

The yearly exercises, called Ulchi Freedom Guardian, will be carried out by the US, South Korea and other allies to enhance “readiness, protect the region and maintain stability on the Korean peninsula," read a statement from the Korea-US Combined Forces Command.

“The further Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint military exercises are intensified, the stronger military counteraction the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] will take to cope with them,” said a spokesman for North Korea’s National Defense Commission on Saturday.

North Korea will “retaliate against the US with tremendous muscle” if the US does not cancel the war games, he said

The spokesman added that the North Korean army and people “are no longer what they used to be in the past when they had to counter the US nukes with rifles.”

Pyongyang is an “invincible power” and the country’s army possesses the “latest offensive and defensive means unknown to the world,” he stated.

Also, North Korean state television KCNA said Saturday that Washington has to stop the exercises “immediately” if the “United States wants its mainland to be safe.”

Tens of thousands of American and South Korean military forces are scheduled to take part in the joint exercise which will last for 12 days.

In addition, other US allies, including Australia, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France and New Zealand will participate in the drills.

North Korea is under UN sanctions over launching rockets considered by the US and South Korea as ballistic missiles aimed at delivering nuclear warheads, but Pyongyang says its numerous missile tests seek to boost defense capabilities in the face of enemy threats.

'Mr. Lonely' - Iran nuclear deal leaves Pyongyang out in the cold

'Mr. Lonely' - Iran nuclear deal leaves Pyongyang out in the cold. (AN).

Tuesday’s landmark deal over Iran’s nuclear programme signed in Vienna by Iran and the 5+1 group in has left North Korea as the last odd man out.

In view of this, many analysts believe that after the United States took steps to normalise relations with Iran and Cuba -- two of its three long-time foes, conditions have become more conducive for Washington to pay more attention to North Korea’s nuclear issues.

In “light of this trend, the Iran deal could play a positive role in terms of adding pressure for North Korea’s denuclearization,” said Park Myung-lim, a political scientist at Yonsei University.

What is more, for Park, Kim could use the nuclear card “to address all of its internal and external issues, including domestic instability, isolation, poor economy and the normalization of ties with the U.S. and South Korea, and so forth”.

Other experts believe however, that Iran will monopolise Washington’s attention. For instance, Chang Yong-seok, a senior analyst at Seoul National University’s Institute for Peace and Unification Studies, expressed doubts over the speculation that after the deal with Iran, the United States could pay more attention to Pyongyang.

“I am rather cautious about whether the U.S. would move in the near future to address the North Korean issue, as there would be many follow-up measures to do to implement the Iran deal including its talks with the Congress,” he said. And the US Congress will ultimately have to vote on the deal.

All analysts also agree that Iran and North Korea are very different.

Iran is still a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. North Korea, which entered the NPT regime in 1985, broke away from the treaty in 1993, re-joined later and withdrew from it again in 2003.

Tehran has argued that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, including medical use, whilst Pyongyang describes itself as a nuclear-armed state in its constitution and has openly adopted a policy of simultaneously pursuing the development of nuclear arms.

Iran has not conducted any major nuclear tests. By contrast, the North carried out nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, arguing that it has already entered the technical phase “to miniaturize and diversify its nuclear bombs.”

Another difference between the two is that economic sanctions for the oil-rich Islamic Republic are critical for its trade, whilst the impact of the sanctions on the North are much weaker, as its economy is largely disconnected from the international system. Hmmmm......I'm sure the Obama 'admin' has already a 'deal' in mind for Mr. lonely.

Russia Changing details & Price S-300 Contract with Iran, delivery by 2016

Russia Changing details and Price S-300 Contract with Iran, delivery by 2016.(Presstv).

Russia is assembling its S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system to begin its shipment to Iran by 2016, the Kremlin’s top official for the arms trade says.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Vladimir Kozhin, President Vladimir Putin’s aide on military-technical cooperation, added that Moscow is also modernizing some parts of the system and changing contract terms such as the pricing.

“The Iranians want them as soon as possible, and we are trying too. There is activity to prepare new legal contracts, new conditions and thus prepare systems for delivery,” Kozhin said.

He added that some of the military systems that had been intended for sale to Iran were supplied to other clients, and that some parts of other S-300 systems stored across Russia have undergone “serious modernization” with the passage of years. Hmmm.....As i pointed out months ago, the S-300 Iran bought years ago is no longer produced, left only the possibility of delivery of that type from Russian army units who have that type....or change the contract. Read the full story here.

Obama's BFF Iran says IAEA report legally problematic.

Obama's BFF Iran says IAEA report legally problematic. (Taz).

Iran has said that a recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Iranian nuclear program contains legal problems.

Behrooz Kamalvandi, deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said that the report is repetitive and contains unfounded accusations, Mehr news agency reported May 30.

The report is going to be referred to the UN Security Council Board of Directors next week.

Referring to IAEA Secretary General Yukiya Amano’s statement of inability to express any idea about Iran's “unannounced” nuclear activities, Kamalvandi said that the issue can be addressed via the Additional Protocol to the NPT and furthermore, Iran believes its activities are peaceful, something the IAEA also confirms.

He also pointed to the impression that the IAEA may have the authority to inspect any place in Iran at any time and said that the impression is not true.

“Even the Additional Protocol would not give the IAEA such a privilege, neither about Iran nor about any other country,” Kamalvandi asserted.

Commenting on IAEA request to visit Iran's Parchin military site, Kamalvandi said that upon a request by the agency in 2011, a report was filed that listed people, documents, and places demanded by the IAEA in 23 items.

Access was given so as to give the IAEA the chance to say that it has had no unvisited place.
“Under situations when we are holding talks with the group 5+1 (the US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany) as UN Security Council members and have granted that Iran's peaceful activities be continued with some voluntary limitations, the IAEA points to the issue of the suspension of our activities in the Security Council,” Kamalvandi said.


“If the IAEA considers UN Security Council resolutions, then it must take into consideration the agreements we had with the 5+1 as well. Therefore, the IAEA secretary general’s report has problems,” he concluded. Hmmm.....How dare the IAEA ask all these Questions when Obama already approved everything.

UN Nuke agency report: 'Assessment of allegations that Tehran worked on atomic arms essentially stalled.'

UN Nuke agency report: 'Assessment of allegations that Tehran worked on atomic arms essentially stalled.' (NCRI).

Amid nuclear negociations between the six world powers and the Iranian regime, the U.N. atomic agency on Friday reported that work on a key element — an assessment of allegations that Tehran worked on atomic arms — remains essentially stalled, The Associated Press reported from Vienna.

The report from the International Atomic Energy Agency also reiterated that more cooperation is needed by Tehran for full clarity on its present activities. 

Without it, the IAEA said it cannot "conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities."

Diplomats in Vienna view Iran's reluctance to open up to investigators from the International Atomic Energy Agency as a sign of its reluctance to cooperate fully until punitive sanctions imposed on it are lifted as part of any settlement with the powers, Reuters reported.

The IAEA is focused on 12 activities that point to clerical regime’s attempts to make nuclear weapons, including activities related to work on the development on a nuclear payload for missiles.

The IAEA relaunched its probe two years ago by asking for information on less sensitive work related to nuclear arms that may have been carried out by Tehran, with hopes of moving to larger issues later.

Since August, "Iran has yet to propose any new practical measures" to bring the investigation forward, said the report.

The IAEA report, issued to the agency's 35-nation board and the U.N. Security Council, said it remains "concerned about the possible existence in Iran of undisclosed nuclear-related activities involving military-related organizations, including activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for missiles."

"Iran is required to cooperate fully with the Agency on all outstanding issues."

The Vienna-based IAEA also said it remained vital that Iran respond to the agency's questions on and access to the Parchin military base, where Western officials suspect Tehran conducted explosives tests relevant to nuclear bombs.

"The (IAEA) remains ready to accelerate the resolution of all outstanding issues under the Framework for Cooperation. This can be realized by increased cooperation by Iran and by the timely provision of access to all relevant information, documentation, sites, material and personnel in Iran as requested by the agency," the report said.

A tentative agreement was reached between the Iranian regime, the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China on April 2.

But pivotal issues remain unresolved, including the pace of easing Western sanctions and the extent of monitoring and verification measures to ensure Tehran honours any agreement.


The Iranian regime has ruled out any nuclear inspector access to its military bases, a position rejected by the Western powers.

Video - IRAN: Nuclear cooperation between Iran regime & North Korea, NCRI reveals

According to the information from various sources inside of the clerical regime, a delegation from North Korea including experts in nuclear warhead, and various elements of ballistic were present in the country for one week at the end of April.

The information obtained by the PMOI (MEK) network is based on dozens of reports from various sources inside of the clerical regime, in particular from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Ministry of Defense (MoD), the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), which is in charge of working on the weaponization aspect of the nuclear program, and also the Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO).

Due to high security sensitivities, the nuclear and missile delegations from North Korea both enter and leave Iran in total secrecy. The revelations provided detailed information on the exact location of the place where North Koreans stayed in the country.

Iranian officers in North Korea

Those that visited this year stayed in the special guest house of the AIO near a Hemat Industries site in the Khojeir area, located in North-east of Tehran. According to complied reports, delegations of experts and commanders of the IRGC and MoD, particularly those in the fields of nuclear and missile-related activities visit North Korea regularly.

The Iranian resistance exposed the activities and work on a nuclear warhead in Khojeir area in February 2008.

The next delegation of North Korean experts is scheduled to arrive in Iran in June and will be comprised of nine experts.

Mr. Shahin Gobadi, PMOI spokesman, said: “the above information reveals another aspect of the Iranian regime’s secret nuclear weapons program. It is another indication that so far as the clerical regime is concerned, it has no intention of giving up its nuclear weapons program and that the drive to acquire nuclear weapons remains at the core of the regime’s nuclear program. This is the message of extensive cooperation with North Korea and presence of Tehran’s key nuclear figure during North Korean nuclear test.”

“This conduct is in keeping with the positions of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials of the regime”

Mr. Gobadi added: “Both IAEA inspections of military sites and interviews with nuclear scientists. Tehran’s objectives are nothing but continuing the regime’s policy of concealment and duplicity in a bid to complete and advance its nuclear projects. “ Hmmmm......Obama's BFF Iran.

North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile Experts Visit Iran’s Nuclear Sites – Report.

North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile Experts Visit Iran’s Nuclear Sites – Report. (SP).

A team of North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile experts visited a military site near Tehran in April amid talks between world powers and Iran over its nuclear program, media reported Thursday, citing an exiled Iranian opposition group.

Citing information from sources inside Iran, including within Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said the seven person North Korean Defense Ministry team was in Iran during the last week of April.

It was the third time since January that North Koreans had travelled to Iran, and a nine person delegation was due to return in June.

There have previously been unconfirmed reports of ties between the two countries on ballistic missile cooperation, although nothing specific in the nuclear field.

The IAEA, which for years has been investigating alleged nuclear arms research by Tehran, declined to comment. Iranian officials declined to comment.

North Korean officials were not available for comment.

Several Western officials said they were not aware of a North Korean delegation traveling to Iran recently.

North Korea said earlier this month that it has the ability to miniaturize nuclear weapons, a key step toward building nuclear missiles.

In October 2015 Pyongyang plans to launch a long-range ballistic missile. Hmmm.....What could go wrong?

Related: North Korea Can Miniaturize a Nuclear Weapon, and use on ICBM.

South Korea: North Korea Has 'Significant' Tech To Build Mini Nuclear Device.

North Korea Can Miniaturize a Nuclear Weapon, and use on ICBM.

North Korea Can Miniaturize a Nuclear Weapon, and use on ICBM.(Fortuna)

North Korea has deployed its new road-mobile KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile and is capable of mounting a miniaturized nuclear warhead on it, the U.S.’s top homeland security commander said.

“Our assessment is that they have the ability to put a nuclear weapon on a KN-08 and shoot it at the homeland,” Admiral William Gortney, the head of the U.S. Northern Command, told reporters Tuesday at the Pentagon. “We have not seen them do that” and “we haven’t seen them test the KN-08.”

He said “yes sir” when asked if the U.S. thinks North Korea has succeeded in the complicated task of miniaturizing a warhead for use on such a missile. North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests since 2006.

Gortney’s remarks are the strongest to date by a U.S. military official about the status of the KN-O8 missile and North Korea’s progress in making a nuclear weapon small enough to put on it, although they reflected the customary caution about what’s going on in the insular country.

Gortney said in congressional testimony last month that the KN-08’s mobility “will complicate our ability to provide warning and defense against an attack.” On Tuesday, he said that if North Korea were to fire a missile at the U.S., “I am confident we can knock it down.”

North Korea probably needs to improve the reliability and accuracy of its intercontinental ballistic missile, “hurdles that even more advanced industrialized countries would find challenging,” Schilling and Kan wrote.

“North Korea is seriously pursuing the deployment of more capable, longer-range, more survivable weapons,” they wrote. “In short, North Korea has already achieved a level of delivery system development that will allow it to establish itself as a small nuclear power in the coming years.” Hmmmm.......What worries me is how much of this technology have they shared with their buddy Iran? Read the full story here.