Tehran 'preparing for conflict'
Wednesday, 02 Jul 2008 12:35
Diagram showing potential range of Iran's Shahab-3 ballistic missiles
Iran In Focus
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From our special correspondent.
Iran has inaugurated a production line for what it describes as "a quick reaction tank" as part of the country's drive towards self sufficiency in military hardware.
Little is know about the new vehicle, except for its name - Tosan.
But according to the head of procurement for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Colonel Nasser Arab-Beiji, Tosan is just one of several projects to enhance Iran's military capability in the wake of threatening gestures from the US and Israel.
Col Arab-Beigi added that work was currently underway on new electronic warfare and surveillance systems, including passive defence systems at the country's military sites.
Earlier, a senior commander of the IRGC warned of the consequences of any aggression against Iran.
Brigadier General Seyyid Mohammad Hejazi said: "Anyone who jeopardises the future of Iranian children will be dealt with an iron fist."
Israeli media, meanwhile, have reported that Iran has aimed its Shahab-3 ballistic missiles at Israeli nuclear sites, including the reactor at Dimona.
Western and Israeli media report the re-targeting of the missiles is in response to concerns over a possible strike against Iran's own nuclear facilities.
In a related development, another IRGC commander told local media that his units were digging up to 320,000 graves that would be used to bury any foreign invaders. He said families of the dead would be notified and the bodies buried quickly.
He said he wanted to avoid the "anguish" American families suffered during the Vietnam war because they didn't know the fate of their loved ones, or whether they had received a decent burial.