Iran says it may fire on aircraft in its skies

Reuters | 3/24/03 | Paul Hughes

[kattracks]

Iran says it may fire on aircraft in its skies

By Paul Hughes

TEHRAN, March 24 (Reuters) - Iran, which has reported several violations of its airspace by U.S and British jets attacking Iraq, said on Monday it might fire on aircraft which enter its skies.

But it played down the significance of apparently errant missiles landing on its territory and said such incidents were the natural consequence of living next door to a war zone.

Torn between its enmity for both main protagonists in the war in Iraq, the Islamic Republic has vowed to stay neutral.

Deputy Interior Minister Aliasghar Ahmadi said aircraft which entered Iranian airspace would be warned.

"But if they fail to heed (the warnings), they will surely face pre-emptive measures from our troops," Ahmadi, who is responsible for military and security affairs at the ministry, told state television.

"If it is required, and if they fail to heed the warnings, they might face firing from Iran," he said. "Firing does not mean going to war," he added.

Ahmadi said Iran had already warned the ambassadors of Britain and Switzerland -- which handles U.S. interests in Tehran -- about several violations of its airspace in southwest Iran, where U.S.-led forces are battling to control Iraqi cities close to the Iran-Iraq border.

U.S. and British military officials have neither confirmed nor denied that their aircraft have entered Iranian airspace since the start of the war in Iraq.

IRANIANS WANT SADDAM OUT

Most Iranians would be glad to see the back of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who bombarded Iranian troops with chemical weapons during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.

But Iran is also wary of the military presence of its other arch-enemy, the United States, on its western border. Washington broke diplomatic ties with Tehran shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution and has included Iran on its "axis of evil" list.

Fears that Iran, one of the largest military powers in the Middle East, could be drawn into the conflict increased on Friday when a rocket smashed into an oil refinery depot in the city of Abadan in southwest Iran, injuring two people.

Iranian officials had previously accused U.S. aircraft attacking targets in southern Iraq of firing that missile and two others which also landed in southwest Iran.

But Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said Iran was still investigating fragments of the rocket which hit Abadan to determine where it came from.

Speaking to state television on Sunday, Kharrazi added that Iraq had already apologised for firing a missile which fell in an unpopulated area in northwest Iran and said it was an accident.

"Taking into account that we are neighbouring Iraq... it is natural that a rocket or missile comes towards us," he said.

Diplomats in Tehran said they had been impressed with Iran's measured reaction to the apparently stray missiles. "They are behaving very well. They seem to be very keen to stay as neutral as possible," said one European diplomat.

[mabelkitty]

Bring it on!

Tehran spokesperson stated on Sunday that errant missiles were IRAQI!

[w1andsodidwe]

I am not sure that I would want to do that if I were running Iran. But some people do not easily learn obvious lessons.

[TADSLOS]

The Iranian regime seems hell bent on giving us more reasons than we already have to do a shock and awe repeat performance.

[Hodar]

Deputy Interior Minister Aliasghar Ahmadi said aircraft which entered Iranian airspace would be warned.

GPS guidance, with civilian models able to pin point your location within ~20 ft, (military is naturally much better) there is no excuse for a military plane to violate another country's airspace. Iran has not given us free access to it's airspace, and we have no business over it. I find it 'friendly' that they intend to issue warnings.

[FreeTheHostages]

Thanks. Informative post.

[Hodar]

Bring it on!

How many US bodybags is ego worth, instead of restricting our conflict within the boundaries of a terrorist nation. We do NOT have have the right to fly through every country we wish to, simply because we are the USA. There are rules regarding soverign nations, and we must follow them.

[Ingtar]

Interesting. Doesn't Iran claim Basra?

[smith288]

Bring it on!

Its something we dont need currently. The people will do the regime change there. We dont need a fight...just support the younguns.

[FreedomPoster]

I think the British have dibs, currently ;-)

[PhiKapMom]

I am sure the pilots are thinking when hearing Iran talk -- "make my day!" and they would light up the border so fast the Iranians would not know what hit them if they fire on coalition planes.

[TexasGunLover]

How many US bodybags is ego worth, instead of restricting our conflict within the boundaries of a terrorist nation

Iran is a terrorist nation.

[snooker]

>>>But if they fail to heed (the warnings), they will surely face pre-emptive measures from our troop

message to mullahs ... that would be a really bad idea.

we will get around to your nuke facilities in due course. Why rush it.

snooker

[Hodar]

I don't see how Iran can claim them. Basra (Al Basra) is in the 'state' of Al Basra, located at the southern tip of Iraq.

[George W. Bush]

This is no big deal. We should expect they'd react to any military flights through their airspace. Every country maintains its sovereignty claims to its airspace.

Actually, this is very very mild protest, given what Iran has been like since the Seventies.

[kjam22]

We do NOT have have the right to fly through every country we wish to, simply because we are the USA. There are rules regarding soverign nations, and we must follow them.

Rules like you don't hijack their airplanes and fly them into populated buildings? We didn't start this war... and Iran is no ally.

[steveegg]

Go ahead, Iran. Waste some precious ammo. They won't be hitting much of anything though.

[TLBSHOW]

I do believe Iran is on the list of the evil ones!

[HiTech RedNeck]

I wonder if Iran has actually reached an under-the-table agreement with the US about this matter, so will "warn" or perhaps shoot artillery which they know will fall short. Does Iran have any reason to be particularly happy about the Saddam regime? After all it invaded Kuwait until it got smacked down the first time; might it not have also tried to invade Iran some day if not stopped?

[OperationFreedom]

for a narrow minded person such as you are... you sure have strong opinions! LOL