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Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najar (AP)
Last update - 14:23 27/11/2007
Iran: We've developed new missile with range of 2,000 km
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent, Reuters and Haaretz Service
Tags: Iran, nuclear program 

Iran has recently developed a missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers, Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said on Tuesday.

Iran already stocks long-range missiles which are capable of hitting Israel. The new missile, named "Ashoura", will enable Iran to aim at targets in Europe. Ashoura means the tenth day in Farsi, a sacred reference among Shiite Muslims to the martyrdom of the third imam.

Najar told the Iranian Fars news agency that the missile is "a victory of the Defense Ministry." He did not say whether Iran has test fired the missile or has plans to do so.
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Former Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Army Radio that now Iran does not only threaten Israel, but European capitals and Moscow as well.

"The new missile is the world's wake-up call," he said.

Iran launches diplomatic offensive

Meanwhile, Iran has embarked on a diplomatic offensive in the Arab world in an effort to alleviate its growing concerns that it is being isolated internationally, as a result of the Annapolis summit, and that it may be attacked for its recalcitrance on its nuclear program.

Several days ago, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Bashar Assad of Syria, and on Monday, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki visited Kuwait, where he described Tuesday's Mideast peace conference being held in Annapolis, Maryland as "benefiting only the Zionist regime."

Iran's concerns are also being expressed in articles in its press and on websites. According to Tabnak, the website of General Mohsen Rezai, former commander of the Revolutionary Guard, an article appeared Monday saying that Annapolis aims to destroy the strategic alliance with Syria, Tehran's closest ally. "Separating Iran and Syria is the first shot of Annapolis," according to the article.

Another website, Asri Iran, warned Arab states against military cooperation with the United States. In an article published Sunday, the possibility of a regional war against Iran was discussed. According to its authors, if the Arab states neighboring Iran allow the U.S. to use their airspace, or bases in their territory, for an attack against Iran, this will make them legitimate targets for Iranian counter-strikes.

"This is similar to a situation in which there is a war between Israel and Arab states, in which Iran allows its territory to be used for an attack against the latter," the authors of the article state.

Some experts on Iran believe that Tehran is surprised to find that just over a year after the Second Lebanon War, it may find itself isolated by the Arab world, including Syria.

"They thought that after the Second Lebanon War, Iran's strategic position in the region would be changed, and that the Arab states would now give it more consideration. The fact that so many Arab states are participating in the conference, including Syria, means that the results of the war did not help [Iran] so much," says Meir Javedanfar, director of the Middle East Economic and Political Analysis Company.

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      1.   The Syrian alliance with Iran is too strong for the u.s.israel 04:11  |  lakshmi 27/11/07
      2.   Iran`s Aspiration To Dominate The Mideast 04:58  |  dyinglikeflies 27/11/07
      3.   Lakshmi # 1 - We Have A Saying About the Remarks 05:00  |  Dick Hertz 27/11/07
      4.   Syrian Regime 05:11  |  GK 27/11/07
      5.   Lakshmi rest your head in Stalin`s lap 05:14  |  conto 27/11/07
      6.   This author`s cliam is realy amusing. It`s not a joke, is it? 05:33  |  ManintheMiddle 27/11/07
      7.   Oh dem Shiites hates dem Sunnis lah lah lah lah 05:33  |  PETER S.M. 27/11/07
      8.   Annapolis backlash will serve Iran well 05:38  |  Natallie Durson 27/11/07
      9.   Poor Mohamedan Persians who wanna be Arabs 05:38  |  cristo 27/11/07
      10.   Lackshmi would hate peace. 05:38  |  Israeli 27/11/07
      11.   Exploit Iran`s fears NOW!! Iran on the diplomatic ATTACK 05:49  |  Pablo B 27/11/07
      12.   lakshmi-# 1-face reality 05:54  |  Daniel Leopold 27/11/07
      13.   Lakshmi # 1 - The Arab Countries Can Not And Will Never Accept 06:17  |  Eli 27/11/07
      14.   Except one thing 07:08  |  Espart 27/11/07
      15.   Maybe Time For Iran To Get Together With Hanoi Dane And... 07:18  |  Yosemite 27/11/07
      16.   A SINGLE MILITARY RAID,AND THE MOSLEM WORLD IS SUBDUED.BE BRAVE,R 07:34  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 27/11/07
      17.   LET IRAN WORRY 07:38  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/11/07
      18.   LAKSHMI IS RIGHT 07:51  |  IsraFan 27/11/07
      19.   #14 Cipora - don`t just let them worry, EXPLOIT their worries 08:54  |  Pablo B 27/11/07
      20.   lakshmi and cabals # 1 09:59  |  ChanahS 27/11/07
      21.   Yoav Stern is seeing a pink world. 10:00  |  Fortuna Benmayor 27/11/07
      22.   Israel Benefits either way with Annapolis 10:31  |  Awake 27/11/07
      23.   Russia and China in range too then 10:52  |  Jason 27/11/07
      24.   #2 dyinglikeflies 10:58  |  Fadhil 27/11/07
      25.   to # 24 Fadhil... 11:24  |  David 27/11/07
      26.   Israel has the "Arrow system" 11:35  |  gili 27/11/07
      27.   Yoav Stern forgets Europe 11:38  |  Jonathan S 27/11/07
      28.   a victory of the Defense Ministry 11:56  |  W.Anchor 27/11/07
      29.   Your point being? 12:14  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/11/07
      30.   VOICE of MOSHIACH)))#16..... STAY IN YOUR DREAMLAND! 12:20  |  TrippleJump 27/11/07
      31.   Fiddlesticks, they are scared.! 12:24  |  Stephen 27/11/07
      32.   To Gili 12:40  |  dovale 27/11/07
      33.   Ah yes, those peace loving Iranians (end) 13:13  |  Joe Sittizen 27/11/07
      34.   2# 13:21  |  Teacher 27/11/07
      35.   12Daniel Leopold,for your information,the caspian sea littoral 13:25  |  lakshmi 27/11/07
      36.   chanah S & Eli,chanah because the alliance is a `defensive` one. 13:37  |  lakshmi 27/11/07
      37.   Defence or attack? 13:39  |  manny.b 27/11/07
      38.   Linthwaite`s fireworks 13:44  |  W.Anchor 27/11/07
      39.   Ashoura - there`s a lot in the name 13:44  |  MaYa D 27/11/07
      40.   OOh so scared 13:57  |  george 27/11/07
      41.   lakshmi.Israel 14:09  |  Figaro 27/11/07
      42.   THIS IS THE IRANIAN RESPONSE TO ANNAPOLIS 14:42  |  Jangar 27/11/07
      43.   POP, The Weazle 15:17  |  Ambrose 27/11/07
      44.   Wonderful news! 15:41  |  Murray of Montreal 27/11/07
      45.   To number 1 lakshmi. 15:43  |  David Nigel Braham 27/11/07
      46.   Lakshmi 15:56  |  Richard 27/11/07
      47.   The Fool Here Is Russia 15:57  |  dyinglikeflies 27/11/07
      48.   Lakshmi #37 - "Israel Is The Scandal Of The Century" 16:17  |  Eli 27/11/07
      49.   #48 Dyinglikeflies 16:27  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/11/07
      50.   Why is Iran Surprised? 16:32  |  Sarah 27/11/07
      51.   Chris Linthwaite 16:47  |  Chaim 27/11/07
      52.   # 34 # Perhaps this is why the world is in trouble ? 17:05  |  **D.Ranged** 27/11/07
      53.   Irans big mouth 17:09  |  Petra 27/11/07
      54.   #48, Chris- Is Peace A Selfish Interest? 17:53  |  dyinglikeflies 27/11/07
      55.   THREE THINGS FOR IRAN 17:59  |  indrajaya 27/11/07
      56.   #52 Chaim 18:00  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/11/07
      57.   lakshmi/hajije 18:11  |  Sarah 27/11/07
      58.   # 48, about Russia 18:17  |  Uri 27/11/07
      59.   Indrajaya 18:23  |  Sarah 27/11/07
      60.   Indrajaya 18:27  |  Yosemite 27/11/07
      61.   # 60, SARAH 18:56  |  indrajaya 27/11/07
      62.   To Petra 18:57  |  Persian Kitty 27/11/07
      63.   58 Sarah,what language did you speak,I mean before you learned 19:06  |  lakshmi