TEHRAN, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran
has launched a production line for superior "Quick Reaction" tanks
as part of the country's campaign for self-sufficiency in defense, Iran's
English-language Press TV said on Monday.
Iran has successfully started the production of a
"Quick Reaction" tank named "Tosan", Head of the self-sufficiency unit of the
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) ground forces, Colonel Nasser Arab-Beigi
was quoted as saying.
"Military equipment needs to be upgraded in
accordance with the latest developments in global technology," said Arab-Beigi,
adding that the current situation calls for a significant enhancement of the
country's defense capacity.
The self-sufficiency unit is also working on projects
to enhance passive defense systems and secure the country's military sites, he
said.
He also warned that every enemy move in the Gulf and
on Iranian borderlines is under the full surveillance of the IRGC forces.
The United States and its allies have accused Iran of
trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program.
Iran has denied the charges, insisting that its nuclear program is for peaceful
purposes only.
The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush
has said it focused on diplomacy to try to resolve Iran's nuclear issue, but
also proclaimed it will take "no option off the table."
Some observers believe it is possible that the United
States and Israel would attack Iranian targets over Tehran's suspicious nuclear
program.
The New York Times has reported recently that U.S.
military believed a major military exercise by Israel in early June was a
rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear sites.
WASHINGTON, June
30 (Xinhua) -- The White House declined on Monday to make comment on a news
report that Congress approved late last year President George W. Bush's funding
request of 400 million U.S. dollars to undermine Iran's leadership.
"I couldn't comment either way," White House
spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters after the New Yorker magazine reported
Sunday that the Bush administration has beefed up its covert operations against
Iran's leadership. Full story
TEHRAN, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran would determine the scale
and scope of response to any possible threat, Deputy Commander of the Islamic
Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Mohammad Hejazi said on Monday.
"The era of hit-and-run is over. Possible beginners
of any threat against Iran should notice that Iran reserves the right to
determine the scale and scope of response to any threat," the official IRNA news
agency quoted Hejazi as saying. Full story
TEHRAN, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Revolutionary
Court has sentenced to death an Iranian found guilty of spying for the Israeli
intelligence agency Mossad, Iran's satellite Press TV reported on Monday.
"Ali Ashtari had links with the spy agencies of the
Israeli regime," an official with Iran's Intelligence Ministry was quoted as
saying. Full story
