Green Energy
Even though he stresses this is his opinion and not necessarily those of the Russian governement this is still stunning coming from a Russian. Considering their involvement with Iran's reactors he should have a better idea than most and the rest better take heed.
from Hindustan Times
Iran's nuclear threat 'real, dangerous': Russian analyst
Russia and the West would be making a big mistake if they ignored or underestimated the potential missile and nuclear threat coming from Iran, a Russian military expert has said.
"Iran is actively working on a missile development programme. I won't say the Iranians will be able to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles in the near future, but they will most likely be able to threaten the whole of Europe," said Major General Vladimir Dvorkin, head of the Moscow-based Centre for Strategic Nuclear Forces.
Some Western and Russian sources claim that Iran may be currently running a programme, dubbed Project Koussar, to develop a totally different missile with a range of 4,000-5,000 km.
"Iran has long abandoned outdated missile technologies and is capable of producing sophisticated missile systems," Dvorkin told a press meet Thursday.
Iran successfully launched last year an upgraded Shahab-3 ballistic missile as part of a navy exercise, dubbed Great Prophet 3, in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
With a reported range of 2,000 km and armed with a one-tonne conventional warhead, the Shahab-3 puts Israel, Turkey, the Arabian peninsula, Afghanistan and Pakistan within striking distance.
Western powers led by the US, along with Israel, accuse Tehran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology for their delivery. Iran says it needs its nuclear programme for the peaceful generation of electricity and missile programme for space exploration.
Iran has consistently defied international demands to halt its nuclear programme and insists that it plans to use enriched uranium fuel produced at a uranium enrichment facility at Natanz in its first domestically-built nuclear power plant. The plant in the town of Darkhovin is scheduled to become operational in 2016.
Tehran announced in late February that it had 6,000 operating centrifuges at Natanz and was planning to install a total of 50,000 over the next five years.
Commenting on the Iranian nuclear programme, Dvorkin said the potential danger of its military aspect was not the possibility of a nuclear strike against some countries, but the ability to assume a more bold approach in dealing with the international community after becoming a nuclear power.
"The real threat is that Iran, which is already ignoring all resolutions and sanctions issued by the UN Security Council, will be practically 'untouchable' after acquiring nuclear-power status, and will be able to expand its support of terrorist organisations, including Hamas and Hezbollah," the expert said.
He added that the possession of nuclear weapons by Iran could force non-nuclear countries to seek similar weapons and ballistic missile technologies thus starting a nuclear race and increasing the possibility of a nuclear conflict.
Dvorkin has had a role in writing all major strategy documents for the Strategic Nuclear Forces and the Strategic Missile Forces. As an expert in the field he participated in preparing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and the START I and START II pacts, and has made a significant contribution to formulating Soviet and Russian positions at negotiations on strategic offensive arms control and reduction.
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Green Energy
Vladimir Dvorkin: Iran's nuclear threat 'real, dangerous'
Even though he stresses this is his opinion and not necessarily those of the Russian governement this is still stunning coming from a Russian. Considering their involvement with Iran's reactors he should have a better idea than most and the rest better take heed.
from Hindustan Times
Iran's nuclear threat 'real, dangerous': Russian analyst
Russia and the West would be making a big mistake if they ignored or underestimated the potential missile and nuclear threat coming from Iran, a Russian military expert has said.
"Iran is actively working on a missile development programme. I won't say the Iranians will be able to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles in the near future, but they will most likely be able to threaten the whole of Europe," said Major General Vladimir Dvorkin, head of the Moscow-based Centre for Strategic Nuclear Forces.
Some Western and Russian sources claim that Iran may be currently running a programme, dubbed Project Koussar, to develop a totally different missile with a range of 4,000-5,000 km.
"Iran has long abandoned outdated missile technologies and is capable of producing sophisticated missile systems," Dvorkin told a press meet Thursday.
Iran successfully launched last year an upgraded Shahab-3 ballistic missile as part of a navy exercise, dubbed Great Prophet 3, in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
With a reported range of 2,000 km and armed with a one-tonne conventional warhead, the Shahab-3 puts Israel, Turkey, the Arabian peninsula, Afghanistan and Pakistan within striking distance.
Western powers led by the US, along with Israel, accuse Tehran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology for their delivery. Iran says it needs its nuclear programme for the peaceful generation of electricity and missile programme for space exploration.
Iran has consistently defied international demands to halt its nuclear programme and insists that it plans to use enriched uranium fuel produced at a uranium enrichment facility at Natanz in its first domestically-built nuclear power plant. The plant in the town of Darkhovin is scheduled to become operational in 2016.
Tehran announced in late February that it had 6,000 operating centrifuges at Natanz and was planning to install a total of 50,000 over the next five years.
Commenting on the Iranian nuclear programme, Dvorkin said the potential danger of its military aspect was not the possibility of a nuclear strike against some countries, but the ability to assume a more bold approach in dealing with the international community after becoming a nuclear power.
"The real threat is that Iran, which is already ignoring all resolutions and sanctions issued by the UN Security Council, will be practically 'untouchable' after acquiring nuclear-power status, and will be able to expand its support of terrorist organisations, including Hamas and Hezbollah," the expert said.
He added that the possession of nuclear weapons by Iran could force non-nuclear countries to seek similar weapons and ballistic missile technologies thus starting a nuclear race and increasing the possibility of a nuclear conflict.
Dvorkin has had a role in writing all major strategy documents for the Strategic Nuclear Forces and the Strategic Missile Forces. As an expert in the field he participated in preparing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and the START I and START II pacts, and has made a significant contribution to formulating Soviet and Russian positions at negotiations on strategic offensive arms control and reduction.
- Side Deal Update: Iran To Skirt Side Deal Of Nuclear Agreement, Hold Missile Drills -duh!
Iran will resume long-range ballistic missile drills in coming months despite a UN stipulation in the recent nuclear deal that Teheran halt nuclear-capable ballistic missile activity. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, Teheran believes...
- Iran Has Icbm's That Can Hit Israel And Europe
Iran has apparently produced an intercontinental ballistic missile whose range far exceeds the distance between Iran and Israel, and between Iran and Europe.On Wednesday night, Channel 2 showed satellite imagery taken by Israel’s Eros-B satellite that...
-
Iran secretly tested 'nuclear-capable missiles' (AFP) – 2 hours ago LONDON — Iran has carried out secret tests of ballistic missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload in breach of UN resolutions, British Foreign Secretary William Hague...
- Latest Dod Guestimate On Iran's Missile Capability
Is it my imagination or is the DoD consistently running a day late and a dollar short on the question of just when Iran will join the Kaboom Klub? According to the latest guestimate, we have nothing to worry about until at least 2015. Iranian Missile...
- Iran Ready To Strike At Israel's Nuclear Heart
From the Times of London (thanks to Michael): Iran has moved ballistic missiles into launch positions, with Israel's Dimona nuclear plant among the possible targets, defence sources said last week. The movement of Shahab-3B missiles, which have an...