Iran Says It Test-Fired Underwater Missile
TEHRAN, April 2 — Iran said Sunday that it had test-fired what it described as a sonar-evading underwater missile just two days after it announced that it had fired a new missile that could carry multiple warheads and evade radar systems.
The new missile is among the world's fastest and can outpace an enemy warship, Gen. Ali Fadavi of the country's elite Revolutionary Guards told state television.
General Fadavi said only one other country, Russia, had a missile that moved underwater as fast as the Iranian one, which he said had a speed of about 225 miles per hour. State television showed what it described as the missile being fired.
"The missile carries a very powerful warhead that enables it to operate against groups of warships and big submarines," he said.
He contended that the boats that would launch the missile were able to evade detection systems but that "even if an enemy's warship sonar can detect the missile, no warship can escape from this missile because of its high speed."
General Fadavi said the missile launched Sunday took six years to develop.
The test, as well as the one described Friday, was part of a week of naval maneuvers. State television showed the missile as it was fired. The news agency IRNA said the maneuvers were to display "the country's defensive capabilities."
Iran's military show of force follows increasing international pressure over its nuclear program. Last Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council urged Iran to suspend its uranium-enrichment activities and asked the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency to report on Iran's compliance within 30 days.
Iran has refused to comply. On Sunday, Iran's representative to the atomic energy agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, appearing on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer," said of the Security Council's action, "We express our regret for such a hasty decision because the wisest decision was no action."
The state television video broadcast Sunday showed crew members on a submarine and described them as preparing to launch the missile. Another film clip showed what was described as the missile being fired from the deck of a ship and diving into the water.
The Revolutionary Guards air force chief called the antiradar missile that was test-fired Friday "a very advanced missile."
Mr. Soltanieh, told CNN on Sunday that he did not believe that the weapon could carry a nuclear warhead. "The world should not worry because any country has its own self-defense conventional military activities," he said.
nytimes.com
The torpedo was tested in the Straits of Hormuz, the narrow entrance of the Gulf and a vital corridor for oil supplies.
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