Posted on 09/27/2002 4:30:40 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Iran, accused by the United States of developing weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them, has begun the mass production of a new surface-to-surface missile, newspapers said Wednesday.
They said Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani inaugurated a production line for the Fateh A-110 surface-to-surface missile which has a range of 130 miles as well as an anti-ship missile and 35mm anti-aircraft shells.
"Iran's deterrence policy in producing defensive equipment aims to bring maximum security to the Islamic Republic's borders," the Siyasat-e Rouz newspaper quoted Shamkhani as saying.
Iran successfully tested the Fateh A-110 missile in September.
"Iran has no plan to increase the range of its missiles and Iran's missile programs are fully in line with international principles," he said.
Defense Ministry officials were not immediately available to confirm the reports carried in several newspapers.
President Bush has labeled Iran part of an "axis of evil" accusing it of seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction and sponsoring terrorism -- charges Iran strongly denies.
Iran says its weapons manufacturing program is strictly conventional and for defensive purposes only.
"Maintaining the balance of power in the region provides the best guarantee for regional peace and security," Shamkhani said.
Iran has developed a range of missiles, tanks and jet fighters mainly with the help of Russia, China and North Korea. The United States has urged those countries stop arms cooperation with the Islamic Republic.
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