Russia Completes TOR-M1 Delivery to Iran

[ORAC]

Grauniad: Russia Fulfills Iran Missile Deal

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia fulfilled a contract to sell air defense missiles to Iran, Russian news agencies quoted the head of the country's state-run weapons exporter as saying Tuesday. Russia fulfilled its contract obligations and "completed in full the delivery of Tor M-1 missiles to Iran (http://www.defense-update.com/products/t/tor.htm),'' ITAR-Tass quoted Rosoboronexport chief Sergei Chemezov as saying in Bangalore, India, where he was on a visit along with Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.

Defense Ministry officials previously said Moscow would supply 29 of the sophisticated missile systems to Iran under a $700 million contract signed in December 2005, according to Russian media reports........

On Monday, Iran conducted missile tests and said it had barred 38 United Nations nuclear inspectors from entering the country.....

[Had Enough 77]

Just in time for the israeli's and/or Americans to go in and bomb it!:)

[ORAC]

Torygraph: N Korea helping Iran with nuclear testing

North Korea is helping Iran to prepare an underground nuclear test similar to the one Pyongyang carried out last year.

Under the terms of a new understanding between the two countries, the North Koreans have agreed to share all the data and information they received from their successful test last October with Teheran's nuclear scientists........A senior European defence official told The Daily Telegraph that North Korea had invited a team of Iranian nuclear scientists to study the results of last October's underground test to assist Teheran's preparations to conduct its own — possibly by the end of this year.

There were unconfirmed reports at the time of the Korean firing that an Iranian team was present. Iranian military advisers regularly visit North Korea to participate in missile tests. Now the long-standing military co-operation between the countries has been extended to nuclear issues. As a result, senior western military officials are deeply concerned that the North Koreans' technical superiority will allow the Iranians to accelerate development of their own nuclear weapon.

"The Iranians are working closely with the North Koreans to study the results of last year's North Korean nuclear bomb test," said the European defence official. "We have identified increased activity at all of Iran's nuclear facilities since the turn of the year," he said. "All the indications are that the Iranians are working hard to prepare for their own underground nuclear test.".....

Intelligence estimates vary about how long it could take Teheran to produce a nuclear warhead. But defence officials monitoring the growing co-operation between North Korea and Iran believe the Iranians could be in a position to test fire a low-grade device.....within 12 months.........

[Lyneham Lad]

Torygraph: N Korea helping Iran with nuclear testing
North Korea is helping Iran to prepare an underground nuclear test similar to the one Pyongyang carried out last year.


In a different thread some time ago I referred to an article in 'The Business' regarding Saudi funding for the Pakistani nuclear weapons programme. The implication being that the Saudis would be able take delivery of functioning weapons if/when required to balance developments in Iran.

How long before the Sunni -v- Shia divide results in a mushroom cloud? :eek: