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Iran ‘will likely seek new subs, warships’ once arms ban expires in 2020
[IsraelTimes] Tehran is set to capitalize on removal of international sales restrictions under nuclear deal, according to new US intelligence.Iran is likely to capitalize on the expiration of an international arms embargo in 2020 to purchase new warships, submarines and cruise missiles, according to a new assessment by the US Office of Naval Intelligence. The February report noted that, with restrictions on conventional arms sales under the 2015 nuclear deal ending in 2020, Tehran will be able "to pursue foreign acquisitions that have been inaccessible since sanctions were imposed on Iran’s nuclear program." The report said Iran sees its naval forces as critical to warding off threats, and its defense strategy is thus highly focused on the development of its navy. "Acquisitions will continue along established trends with an emphasis on smaller, faster [vessels], equipped with sophisticated weaponry, and acquired in large numbers," it assessed. The Islamic republic will likely seek submarine-launched anti-ship cruise missiles and new torpedoes. "After 2020, Iran may look to foreign acquisitions of ships and submarines with a wide array of weapons suites. Reportedly, Iran has entered into negotiations with Russia to acquire the SS-N-26 Yakhont coastal defense cruise missile, as well," the report said. On Monday Iran announced that it tested two missiles during a series of naval drills in the Persian Gulf. One was fired from a submarine, it said. Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said the Nasir missile, which he described as Iran’s latest submarine launched cruise missile, "successfully hit its target" during its test launch, the official IRNA news agency reported. The most recent Iranian missile firings follow the launches of a ballistic missile and cruise missile in late January -- both of which are nuclear capable -- with the former resulting in new US sanctions on a number of entities involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program and a warning from US President Donald Trump ...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States... that the Islamic Theocratic Republichad been "put on notice" and that "nothing is off the table" in terms of a military response to perceived Iranian provocations. In January the outgoing B.O. regime said that on the one-year anniversary of the implementation of the nuclear deal, Tehran was seen to be "upholding its commitments" under the accord. The White House said the deal had achieved "significant, concrete results," such as subjecting Iran to an intrusive inspection and verification program, reducing its uranium stockpile by 98 percent and dismantling more than two-thirds of its centrifuges. The accord paved the way for Iran to reenter the international finance system, freeing up Iranian assets estimated to be worth $100 billion to $150 billion, although the administration insisted that figure is, in reality, much lower. In April 2016, US Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you knowKerry Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat,conqueror of Cambodia, unsuccessful presidential candidate, and utterly failed Secretary of State... said Iran had received, by then, roughly $3 billion. Posted by: trailing wife 2017-03-05 |
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