Iran Unveils New Homegrown Warplane
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Tehran Wednesday announced that an Iranian-built fighter jet had successfully participated in a massive military exercise aimed at demonstrating for Washington and the West the kind of power the Islamic Republic possesses to repulse any military action against its nuclear facilities. The Iranian news agency Fars reported that the single-seat Saegheh, which means "lighting" in Persian, had completed an operational flight during which it launched an advanced air-to-surface missile. Iranian army spokesman Jawad Mahmadian told Fars, "The aircraft specializes in close-quarters air support and was planned and built by members of the Iranian air force." It "is similar to the American F-18, but stronger," he claimed. A senior Iranian air force commander, General Karim Gabami, proudly told national television that the Saegheh's successful test and the war games in general were effectively demonstrating for the world "the force we are prepared to apply in order to defend our country until the last drop of blood." US President George W. Bush Tuesday labeled Iran as great a threat to global stability as Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist network. Washington is said to be preparing a package of severe economic sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment. The US hopes the UN Security Council will back the move, but is report |
