The West fears Iran's ultimate goal is to build nuclear weapons. Iran says its programme is aimed solely at peaceful energy use.

Stuxnet is tailored to target weaknesses in Siemens systems used to manage water supplies, oil rigs, power plants and other utilities.
'Electronic war'

The fact that Stuxnet has now been detected on the personal computers of staff will have no impact on plans to make the Bushehr plant operational next month, Mr Jafari said.

A team is now trying to remove the malicious software, or malware, from several affected computers, he told IRNA.

It is believed to be the first-known worm designed to target major infrastructure facilities.

A working group of experts met last week to discuss ways of fighting the worm, which Mr Liayi said has now infected about 30,000 IP addresses in Iran.

The Fateh-110 is a short-range, road-mobile, solid-propellant,high-precision ballistic missile with advanced navigation and controlsystems

US contingency plans for air strikes on Iran extend beyond nuclearsites and include most of the country's military infrastructure, theBBC has learned.

It is understood that any such attack - if ordered - would targetIranian air bases, naval bases, missile facilities andcommand-and-control centres.


The US insists it is not planning to attack, and is trying to persuade Tehran to stop uranium enrichment.

The UN has urged Iran to stop the programme or face economic sanctions.

But diplomatic sources have told the BBC that as a fallback plan,senior officials at Central Command in Florida have already selectedtheir target sets inside Iran.

That list includes Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Natanz.Facilities at Isfahan, Arak and Bushehr are also on the target list,the sources say.

Two triggers

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the trigger for such anattack reportedly includes any confirmation that Iran was developing anuclear weapon - which it denies.
Alternatively, our correspondent adds, a high-casualty attack on USforces in neighbouring Iraq could also trigger a bombing campaign if itwere traced directly back to Tehran.

Long range B2 stealth bombers would drop so-called "bunker-busting"bombs in an effort to penetrate the Natanz site, which is buried some25m (27 yards) underground.

The BBC's Tehran correspondent Frances Harrison says the news thatthere are now two possible triggers for an attack is a concern toIranians.

Authorities insist there is no cause for alarm but ordinary people are now becoming a little worried, she says.

Deadline 

Earlier this month US officers in Iraq said they had evidence Iran wasproviding weapons to Iraqi Shia militias. However the most senior USmilitary officer later cast doubt on this, saying that they only hadproof that weapons "made in Iran" were being used in Iraq.


Gen Peter Pace, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said he did notknow that the Iranian government "clearly knows or is complicit" inthis.

At the time, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the accusationswere "excuses to prolong the stay" of US forces in Iraq.

Middle East analysts have recently voiced their fears of catastrophic consequences for any such US attack on Iran.

Britain's previous ambassador to Tehran, Sir Richard Dalton, told theBBC it would backfire badly by probably encouraging the Iraniangovernment to develop a nuclear weapon in the long term.

Last year Iran resumed uranium enrichment - a process that can makefuel for power stations or, if greatly enriched, material for a nuclearbomb.

Tehran insists its programme is for civil use only, but Western countries suspect Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons.

The UN Security Council has called on Iran to suspend its enrichment of uranium by 21 February.

TEHRAN willtarget Israel's Dimona reactor in a retaliatory attack if the it is attacked by an Israeli or US air strike, a Iranian official toldthe Arabic-language newspaper Asharq al-Awsat on Monday. 
Tehran is aware that Israel and the United Stateswant to attack Iran, but we are also aware that while they actuallyhave the option to launch war, they do not have the option to end it.This is America's and Israel's point of weakness. We know that there isno solution to this point of weakness, thanks to the importance of theGulf region, America's problems in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the(geographically) small area of the Zionist entity," the anonymousofficial was quoted by the paper as saying. He also specified that theDimona Nuclear reactor would be on the top of Iran's target list in a potentialwar.

Iran said in July that its nuclear agency began research on the experimental reactor.
Nuclearfusion, the process powering the sun and stars, has so far only beenmastered as a weapon, producing the thermonuclear explosions ofhydrogen bombs. It has never been harnessed for power generation.
AsgharSediqzadeh, the head of the new fusion research center, is quoted bythe semi-official ISNA news agency as saying the center will hire 100experts to join the national project.
Tehran is not known to have carried out anything but basic fusion research.

TEHRAN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- In the past two days, Iran launched anumber of military projects and warned its enemies strongly against anyattack on the country.
　　On Monday, Iran opened the production lines of two home-made,high-speed assault boats, dubbed the Seraj (Lamp) high-speed boat and anew generation of the high-speed Zolfaghar (named after Shiite ImamAli's sword) boat.
　　According to the local satellite Press TV, the new version ofZolfaghar boat is capable of launching missiles and sailing at a speedof 70 knots (82 mph), and can operate in an average wave height of 1.21meters while its missiles will effectively work at a height of 1.25meters.

　　Meanwhile, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidiwho had participated in the inaugural ceremony of the boats, said thatthe Seraj is a fast and offensive rocket launcher designed for regionswith tropical weather, according to the official IRNA news agency.
　　Vahidi said the boat enjoys high efficiency and maneuver power,adding that it is equipped with advanced electronic andtelecommunications facilities.
　　Both of the boats have been designed to conduct immediate strikes on enemy ships, he added.
　　Vahidi said that the vessels would help strengthen Iran's defensecapabilities and would be deployed to provide security to the PersianGulf, the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz.
　　The Islamic Republic of Iran, enjoying modern and complicateddefense industries and its powerful and committed forces, is able tomaintain the security of the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and theHormuz Strait at the highest possible level, he said.
　　Besides, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Navy CommanderRear Admiral Ali Fadavi said on the sidelines of the opening ceremonythat Iran's IRGC is ranked first in terms of possessing the fastestmissile-launching assault boats.
　　"Iran is second to none in the world when it comes to high- speedmissile-launching vessels," he was quoted as saying by Press TV.
　　"American warships currently have a maximum speed of 31 knotswhile Iranian vessels can travel twice as fast," said Fadavi accordingto the report.
　　Speed is a significant factor as far as vessels are concerned, hesaid, adding that the IRGC's Navy is capable of countering anyaggression.
　　In the day, Vahidi warned the enemies of the country, implying theUnited States and Israel, not to "play with fire" by attacking Iran.
　　"We won't invade any country and we will extend our hand to allworld states, but will give a hard and extensive response to anycountry willing to play with fire and making illogical actions againstIran," he was quoted as saying.
　　In case of any attack, Iran's reaction to any kind of stupid actswill be unpredictable and "Iran's reaction to any kind of attacks byenemies will not be limited to a small region," he said according toIRNA.
　　In August, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff MikeMullen said the United States has a plan in place to attack Iran if itis necessary.
　　"Military actions have been on the table and remain on the table"for curbing Iran's nuclear ambition, Mullen, the highest- ranking U.S.military officer, told NBC's "Meet the Press."
　　The United States and Israelis have refused to rule out thepossibility on launching unilateral military strike against Iran'snuclear facilities.
　　Iranian military officials have dismissed the threats, saying Iranhas prepared defensive plans to face any threats by the enemies.
　　On Sunday, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel is"too weak to attack Iran," and will receive a crushing response if itlaunches a military strike against Iran.
　　In the day, Ahmadinejad unveiled a home-made unmanned long- range,4-meter-long bomber drone, dubbed Karrar, with the flight range of1,000 km at a very high speed.
　　"This jet has mainly the message of peace, friendship and dignityfor humanity," and "it is also the messenger of death for (Iran's)enemies," Ahmadinejad said in a ceremony marking the country's DefenseIndustry Day at Tehran's Malek Ashtar University known for its militaryresearches.
　　Iranian defense minister said Friday that Iran has successfullytest-fired a new surface-to-surface missile, Qiam, which has beenequipped with new technical specifications and exceptional tacticalpowers.
　　Iran has reiterated that its military capability enhancements have defensive and peaceful purposes.

Tehran:Iran began mass-producing two high-speed variants of missile-launchingassault boats on Monday, warning its enemies not to "play with fire" asit boosts security along its coastline.
The inauguration of the production lines for the Seraj and Zolfaqarspeedboats comes a day after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiledIran's home-built bomber drone, which he said would deliver "death" toIran's enemies.

The United States expressed concern about the Islamic republic's growing military capabilities.
Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that the Seraj (Lamp) andZolfaqar (named after Shiite Imam Ali's sword) boats would bemanufactured at the marine industries complex of the defence ministry.
Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi opened the assembly lines, saying the vessels would help to strengthen Iran's defences, IRNA said.
"Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is relying on a great defenceindustry and the powerful forces of Sepah (Revolutionary Guards) andthe army, with their utmost strength, can provide security to the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and Strait of Hormuz," Vahidi said.
He issued a stern warning to Iran's foes.
"The enemy must be careful of its adventurous behaviour and not playwith fire because the Islamic Republic of Iran's response would beunpredictable," IRNA quoted him as saying.
"If enemies attack Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran's reactionwill not be restricted to one area. The truth of our defence doctrineis that we will not attack any country and that we extend our hand toall legitimate countries."
Iran's arch-foes, the United States and Israel, have not ruled outtaking military action over Tehran's controversial nuclear programme.
"This is... something that is of concern to us and... concern toIran's neighbours," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley toldreporters in Washington of Iran's latest military acquisitions.
He said that while all nations had the right to self-defence, theUnited States "take into account... systems that can potentially...threaten particular countries or peace and stability in the region."
Faced with "the growth Iran's capabilities over a number of years,we've stepped up our military cooperation with other countries in theregion," Crowley said.
Iran has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz,choking off some 40 percent of tanker-shipped oil worldwide, in theevent of a military attack.
IRNA said Zolfaqar was a new generation missile-launching vessel.
"It is designed for quick assaults on ships and is equipped with twomissile launchers, two machine guns and a computer system to controlthe missiles," the report said.
Fars news agency cited Vahidi as saying that Zolfaqar was to be equipped with the Nasr 1 (Victory) marine cruise missile "which has high destructive power."
Iran has previously said that the Nasr missile can destroy targets weighing up to 3,000 tonnes.
IRNA said Seraj, designed for a tropical climate, was also a swiftassault vessel for use in the Caspian sea, the Gulf and the Gulf ofOman, adding that it can also fire rockets.
"Seraj is a fast-moving assault rocket launcher using sophisticated and modern technology," Vahidi was cited as saying by IRNA.
The launch of the production lines comes as Iran marks its annual"government week," when it traditionally showcases its latesttechnological achievements.
The naval commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, AliFadavi, was quoted by IRNA as saying that the missile-launching boatsare the world's fastest.
"The Iranian-made missile-launching boats rank first in the world when it comes to their velocity," he said.
Ahmadinejad on Sunday unveiled a bomber drone with a range of up to1,000 kilometres (620 miles), which he dubbed the "ambassador of death."
State media said the drone, Karar (Assailant), can carry four stealth cruise missiles, two bombs of 250 pounds (115 kilos) each or a precision missile of 500 pounds (230 kilos).
Tehran on Friday test-fired a surface-to-surface missile named Qiam(Rising), and more announcements are expected over the next few days,including the test-firing of a third-generation Fateh (Conqueror) 110missile.
Iran also recently took delivery of four domestically built Ghadirmini-submarines, stealth vessels designed to operate in shallow waterssuch as the Gulf.

  Karrar: Iran’s new combat UAVKarrar: Iran’s new combat UAVMilitary Videos — By DefenceTalk on August 24, 2010 at 3:54 am1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)Loading ... Loading ...Karrar: IR Iran's new combat UAV jet, Aug. 2010This UAV can deliver weapons and has a range of 1000 km from ground to target. Karrar means relentless striker. It lands using a parachute system, this way it can land pretty much everywhere. Also, it is launched using a catapult/rocket system that can fit on the back of a truck, making it possible to take off from pretty much everywhere.

WASHINGTON: Expressing concern over the series of recent additions to Iran's military arsenal, including the aerial drone and assault boats, the US has cautioned Tehran that it might find itself "less secure" than ever if it continues on this path.

"This is something that is of concern to us and concern to Iran'sneighbours. On the one hand, every country is sovereign and has theright to provide for its own self-defense, but obviously, we take intoaccount systems that can potentially threaten particular countries orpeace and stability in the region more broadly," state departmentspokesman P J Crowley said.

"But in the face of growth of Iran's capabilities over a number ofyears, we've stepped up our military cooperation with other countriesin the region, and this is one of the reasons why we believe that ifIran continues on the path that it's on, it might actually find itselfless secure because you'll have countries in the region that havejoined together to offset Iran's growing capabilities," he said.

Noting that there's no particular logic to the path that Iran is on,Crowley said its nuclear ambitions, the US believes, will actually makeIran less secure in the long run.

"We're still open toconstructive dialogue with Iran to try to clarify the questions that wehave and the international community has about the true nature of itsnuclear programs. But in the meantime, we will work with othercountries to try to do everything that we can to maintain peace andstability in the region," Crowley said.

TEHRAN (BNS): Iran will launch a satellite withimaging capabilities by the end of this year, IranianTelecommunications Minister Reza Taqipour has said.

“We arepreparing the Rassad 1 (Observation) satellite for launch” by the endof 2010, IRIB quoted Taqipour as saying on Sunday.

Accordingto a Press TV report, Iran needed to carry out further experiments onthe second domestically-made satellite for the exact blast off timebefore March 2011.

Taqipour was also quoted saying that furtheradditional information will be made public after pre-launch tests havebeen carried out and all systems including “the launch base, thecarrier, ground navigation and control of the orbiter gear up for liftoff.”

Iran will use the Rassad 1 satellite to transmit images of the earth and for meteorological purposes, the report said.

In2009, the country launched its first homegrown research satellite.Iranian scientists were on schedule to launch the country's firstmanned mission to space in 2017, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.

BUSHEHR: Iran said on Saturday it has started loading fuelinto its Russian-built first nuclear power plant, in the face of stiffopposition from world powers over its controversial atomic programme.
After decades of delay, engineers finally began loading theRussia-supplied fuel into the plant in the southern port of Bushehr, inthe presence of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, astatement by Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said.

“The operation of transferring nuclear fuel to the reactor wascarried out on 30th of Mordad (August 21) in presence of Ali AkbarSalehi, vice president and head of Iran's atomic body, and SergeiKiriyenko,” the head of Russian atomic body, Rosatom, the statementsaid.
It said the 163 rods of fuel will be “transferred into the core of the reactor after necessary inspections.”
Last week, Salehi said the transfer of fuel into the reactor would be complete by September 5.
On Friday, Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation spokesman AliShirzadian said the one-billion-dollar plant's actual commissioningwould come in October or November when the electricity it generatesconnects to the national grid.
The much-anticipated launch comes despite the fact that Moscow, along-time nuclear ally, has hardened its position on Tehran's nuclearprogramme.
In June, Russia backed a fourth round of UN sanctions against Iranover its uranium enrichment, the most controversial part of its atomicprogramme and which the West believes is aimed at making nuclearweapons, a charge Tehran strongly denies.
Iran says it is enriching uranium to power nuclear reactors so itcan eventually generate electricity of around 20,000 megawatts.
Iran insists it needs nuclear power for when its fossil fuels eventually run out.
On Friday, Salehi said Iran will continue enriching uranium to makefuel for the Bushehr plant as Tehran might not always buy it fromMoscow.
“The Bushehr plant has a lifespan of 60 years and we plan to use itfor 40 years. Suppose we buy fuel for 10 years from Russia. What are wegoing to do for the next 30 to 50 years?” state news agency IRNA quotedhim as saying.
Russia has already supplied 82 tonnes of fuel for Bushehr and plans to take back the spent material to avoid any misuse.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said theBushehr plant would keep Iran firmly fixed to the peaceful use ofnuclear power.
“It is a most important anchor which keeps Iran within the regime of non-proliferation,” he said.
Mark Fitzpatrick, an expert in non-proliferation at theInternational Institute for Strategic Studies in London, said Bushehris not a proliferation risk “as long as it is run to produce power forelectricity generation.”
“It would be a risk if Iran operated it differently, i.e. for shortperiods at low-burn up in order to produce weapons-usable plutonium —but in this case the IAEA would know,” he said of the UN atomicwatchdog.
Work on the Bushehr plant, which is not targeted under UN or othersanctions, began in the 1970s under the rule of the US-backed shahusing contractors from German firm Siemens.
The project was shelved when the shah was toppled in the 1979Islamic revolution, and was revived a decade later under currentsupreme leader Ali Khamenei.
In 1994, Russia agreed to complete its construction, but since then“technical problems” and squabbling between Moscow and Tehran delayedits completion.
Fresh doubts over Bushehr were raised after Moscow voted for thelatest UN sanctions, followed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedevcommenting that Tehran was close to attaining the potential to build anuclear weapon.
This triggered an angry response from Iran, as Moscow's position hasalways been that Tehran has the right to peaceful nuclear energy.
Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy to the IAEA, accused Moscow ofdelaying Bushehr's start-up, saying “it is hard to believe that thetechnical issues continue to delay the completion of the plant over thepast 15 years.”
Bushehr has always been seen as a potential target in the event of amilitary strike by Iran's arch-foes the United States and Israel whichhave never ruled out military action against Tehran's nuclear programme.
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SHANGHAI: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Fridaythe world's nuclear powers “want to monopolise” technology for theirown gain, after Tehran was hit with new UN sanctions over its suspectprogramme.
“Nuclear states do not allow others to even peaceful use nuclearenergy,” Ahmadinejad said in a speech in Shanghai marking “Iran Day” atthe World Expo.
“Some of them have used destructive bombs. They are the perpetratorsof using these weapons but they would prevent others from peacefullyusing nuclear technology,” he said.
“They want to monopolise science and technology for themselves to protect their material interests.”
The Iranian leader's comments come after the UN Security Council hitTehran with a new round of sanctions. Iran says its programme is purelyfor civilian energy purposes but the West suspects it is developingatomic weapons.

TEHRAN: Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi announced on Friday that Iranhas test fired a surface-to-surface missile, Qiam, a day before it isdue to launch its Russian-built first nuclear power plant. State television showed images of the sand coloured Qiam (Rising) blasting into the air from a desert terrain, amid chants of "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest). 
The words "Ya Mahdi" were written on the side of the missile, referringto Imam Mahdi, one of the 12 imams of Shiite Islam, who disappeared asa boy and whom the faithful believe will return one day to bringredemption to mankind.


Vahidi, whose speech during Friday prayers in Tehran was broadcast on television, did not say when the launch took place nor did he reveal the precise range of the missile.

Fars news agency had in a report earlier this week quoted the minister as saying that Qiam was a short-range missile.

"The missile has new technical aspects and has a unique tacticalcapacity," he said on Friday, adding that the device was of a "newclass."

"Since the surface-to-surface missile has no wings, it has lot of tactical power, which also reduces the chances of it being intercepted," he said.

Iran's ISNA news agency cited Vahidi as saying that Qiam was entirely designed and built domestically and was powered by liquid fuel.

"This missile is capable of hitting the target with high precision," Vahidi said.

On Tuesday, Vahidi had said that Qiam was to be test fired during theannual government week, the period when Tehran touts its achievementsin various fields. This year government week begins on Monday.

The third generation Fateh110 (Conqueror) missile was also to be test fired during this period.Iran has previously paraded a version of Fateh 110 which has a travelrange of 150 to 200 kilometres (90 to 125 miles).

Also duringgovernment week, the production lines of two missile-carryingspeedboats, Seraj (Lamp) and Zolfaqar (named after Shiite Imam Ali'ssword) are due to be inaugurated, while a long-range drone, Karar, isexpected to be unveiled.

The firing of Qiam comes days afterIran took delivery of four new mini-submarines of the home-producedGhadir class. Weighing 120 tonnes, the "stealth" submarines are aimedat operations in shallow waters, notably in the Gulf.

Iranianofficials regularly boast about Tehran's military capabilities and thelatest missile launch coincides with warnings by local officialsagainst any attack on the Islamic republic.

Iran's archfoes the United States and Israel have not ruled out a military strike against Tehran to stop its controversial nuclear programme.

On Saturday, Iran is due to launch its Russian-built first nuclearpower plant which eventually aims to generate 1,000 megawatts ofelectricity. The plant is scheduled to go online after more than threedecades of delays.

Iran's atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehisaid on Friday that Tehran aims to power the Bushehr plant in futurewith fuel made domestically for which the Islamic republic wouldcontinue its sensitive uranium enrichment programme.

"Enrichment (of uranium) for producing fuel for the Bushehr plant andother plants will continue," Salehi told state news agency IRNA.Currently, Russia has supplied the fuel for the plant.

Salehi said the contract with Russia does not stipulate that Tehranmust always buy fuel from Moscow, as the "memorandum of understandingsays they will meet our demand if we request" it.

"TheBushehr plant has a lifespan of 60 years and we plan to use it for 40years. Suppose we buy fuel for 10 years from Russia, what are we goingto do for the next 30 to 50 years?" Salehi said.

The Bushehr plant is not directly under UN sanctions, although the Security Council has slapped Tehran with four sets of punitive measures for pursuing its uranium enrichment programme.

Western countries suspect Tehran is enriching uranium to make nuclearweapons, a charge strongly denied by Iran. Enriched uranium can be usedto power nuclear reactors as well as to make the fissile core of anatom bomb.
SOURCE HERE

TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday inaugurated the country's first domestically built unmanned bomber aircraft, calling it an “ambassador of death” to Iran's enemies. The 4-meter-long drone aircraft can carry up to four cruise missilesand will have a range of 620 miles (1,000 kilometers), according to astate TV report -- not far enough to reach archenemy Israel. 
``The jet, as well as being an ambassador of death for the enemies ofhumanity, has a main message of peace and friendship,'' said Ahmadinejad at the inauguration ceremony, which fell on the country's national day for its defense industries.

The goal of the aircraft, named Karrar or striker, is to “keep theenemy paralyzed in its bases,” he said, adding that the aircraft is fordeterrence and defensive purposes.

The president championedthe country's military self-sufficiency program, and said it willcontinue ``until the enemies of humanity lose hope of ever attackingthe Iranian nation.''

Iranlaunched an arms development program during its 1980-88 war with Iraqto compensate for a U.S. weapons embargo and now produces its owntanks, armored personnel carries, missiles and even a fighter plane.

Iran frequently makes announcements about new advances in military technology that cannot be independently verified.

State TV later showed video footage of the plane taking off from alaunching pad and reported that the craft traveled at speeds of 560miles per hour (900 kilometers) and could alternatively be armed withtwo 250-pound bombs or a 450-pound guided bomb.

Iran has been producing its own light, unmanned surveillance aircraft since the late 1980s.

The ceremony came a day after Iran began to fuel its first nuclearpower reactor, with the help of Russia, amid international concernsover the possibility of a military dimension to its nuclear program.

Iran insists it is only interested in generating electricity. Referringto Israel's occasional threats against Iran's nuclear facilities,Ahmadinejad called any attack unlikely, but he said if Israel did, thereaction would be overwhelming.

“The scope of Iran's reactionwill include the entire the earth,'' said Ahmadinejad. “We also tellyou -- the West -- that all options are on the table.”

Ahmadinejad appeared to be consciously echoing the terminology used by the US and Israel in their statements not ruling out a military option against Iran's nuclear facilities.

On Friday, Iran also test-fired a new liquid fuel surface-to-surface missile, the Qiam-1, with advanced guidance systems. 
SOURCE HERE