Free Republic

Iran has reported the test-firing of long-range rockets said to have been allocated to its proxies in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The Iranian Army launched the Fajr-5 during its exercise near the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan in May 2010. During the Velayat-89 exercise, army units fired the Fajr-5, which were said to have struck their targets. "These missiles are called Fajr-5 and belong to the Fajr-class missiles, and have not been tested in any previous exercise," Iranian Army deputy commander Gen. Kioumars Heidari said. "They were tested for the first time in Velayat-89 exercise zone." Fajr-5 was unveiled...

Top Iranian military officials vowed to defy the nation's Islamic rulers if ordered to use force against protesters in the wake of last year's disputed election, according to documents obtained by the Washington Examiner. The Iranian military officials signed a document protesting force that was used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard during the June re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The petition, written in December, was titled, "Declaration of Support of the Iranian Army Leadership and Personnel in Support of the People." The document suggests deep internal divisions in Tehran over the sometimes brutal suppression of Iranians who claimed that...

A statement in support of the Iranian people and signed by a number of officers and commanders of the Iranian army was released on December 10. December 12, 2009 - by Afshin Ellian Leading commentators and diplomats have been pondering for quite some time why the Iranian leader is not prepared to act against the revolution in a major way. The “China model” could be applied, a brutal, fast, and extremely violent strike against the opposition. According to conventional wisdom, tyrants will use all means to eliminate their opponents. So why haven’t the mullahs adopted Chinese methods? Tanks and soldiers...

LONDON [MENL] -- Despite concern over Iran's nuclear program, Britain continues to approve the export of military and security equipment to the Islamic republic. Officials said the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair has approved the sale of non-lethal military and security equipment to Iran. They said the exports were approved after Teheran pledged not to use the equipment for the military. "We don't see our concern over the nuclear program as being connected to other Iranian missions which we have seen as vital," a British official said. In mid-September, the government approved an export of body armor for Iranian...