Report: “Iran built a new missile launch site”
“The Daily Telegraph” reports that Iran has built a new facility, which is expected to be used for ballistic testing. Iran claims it is a launch site for satellites, a team of investigators claim otherwise.
Aug 08, 2013, 06:38PM | Ainav Weisberg
For ballistic testing Photography: AFP
The British newspaper “The Daily Telegraph” reports that according to military sources, there are satellite images of a new missile launch facility in Iran. According to the sources, the site is expected to be used for ballistic testing. The Iranian government refused to comment on the report.
The satellite images were published after the Iranian government reported the development of a new site, intended for local satellite needs. The new site was built, according to the report, near the Iranian space centre in the Samnan district in the north of the country, but military experts from the “Jane’s” institute claim that the purpose of the site is to test ballistic missiles and not launching missiles to space. According to the images, built on the site is a 23 meter tall launch tower, on top of a launch pad that sprawls over hundreds of meters. The facility does not include storage space for the fuel necessary for the space program, and as such the military sources reckon that the facility is of military purpose.
Matthew Clements, who published the “Jane’s” institute findings, explained that “the site could be device for launching satellites. However, Iran is already building at least one site for those purposes, and from looking at the satellite images, we believe that the facility is mainly used for ballistic testing. We do not see storage for the fuel needed to launch into space.”
“The number of sites is out of proportion with the sanctions”
“The location and direction could fit long-range missiles, as it is possible to launch them to a distance of 1000 kilometers above Iran.” Clements added, saying that they do not think it is a nuclear facility.
Teheran announced recently that it plans on expanding the space program “substantially”, and even reported launching a monkey into space. Mohammad Hassan Nami, Iranian minister of communications and information technology, said last month that “Iran is building more centers, in order to start the space program strongly”. “According to the Iranian claims, they are expected to have three launch sites, and that seems out of proportion with the financial state in the country, as a result of the sanctions” Clements added.
Sheshenk Joshi, who is investigating the Iranian missile program, said that “a lot is spoken about Iran’s nuclear program, but what is really worrying countries in the region are the ballistic missiles. Joshi stressed that the sanctions have harmed the ability to launch missiles, but Iran has managed to create solid fuel, which allows them to perform tests.
The Israel Defense Forces ordered the Eilat airport close operations Thursday evening.
All flights that were to land were rerouted to the Ovda military airport. Following the order, transportation minister Israel Katz said in a statement that civilian airports are managed in coordination with the Israel Air Force and Israel Airports Authority, in accordance with security assessments.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and finance minister Yair Lapid presented the Tirkel committee with four new candidates for the position of the bank of Israel governor. Prof. Tzvi Ekshtein who was deputy bank of Israel governor; Prof. Mario Belcher who was the bank of Argentina governor ; Victor Medina who was director general of the finance ministry and Michal Abadi who is the finance ministry accountant general. The committee will check the candidates and once they will be cleared one of them will be chosen.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and finance minister Yair Lapid presented the Tirkel committee with four new candidates for the position of the bank of Israel governor. Prof. Tzvi Ekshtein who was deputy bank of Israel governor; Prof. Mario Belcher who was the bank of Argentina governor ; Victor Medina who was director general of the finance ministry and Michal Abadi who is the finance ministry accountant general. The committee will check the candidates and once they will be cleared one of them will be chosen.
The Tel Aviv Labor Court has ordered 27 Israel Railways locomotive operators who mysteriously called in sick Thursday morning to report to work pending medical clearance from a company doctor. The Histadrut labor federation and the locomotive drivers' union called on their fellow members to return to work. Some of the afternoon and evening trains were cancelled since they didn't return to work.
The health ministry published a new plan against alcohol in which it recommends to change the permitted age for drinking alcohol in Israel from 18 to 21. Furthermore it recommended to check the efficiency of the law not to sell alcohol after 11pm and increasing alcohol prices in order to prevent accidents due to drunken driving.
And finally the successful Israeli cellular application get taxi is now available in New York city
The health ministry published a new plan against alcohol in which it recommends to change the permitted age for drinking alcohol in Israel from 18 to 21. Furthermore it recommended to check the efficiency of the law not to sell alcohol after 11pm and increasing alcohol prices in order to prevent accidents due to drunken driving.
And finally the successful Israeli cellular application get taxi is now available in New York city
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