How Dangerous Is Iran?

Yesterday, Scott did a post linking to a discussion by Steve Schippert of Iran’s claim to have launched a new ballistic missile. Steve cast doubt on that claim, but noted that Iran’s development of anti-radar detection technology was a bigger concern:

It follows a common thread along with the rest of Iran’s new hardware announcements: Stealthy technology. This is the true value of the conventional advances announced by Iran in the Great Prophet maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, not any claimed MIRV development that Iran cannot arm or even the speed of the 328-feet-per-second Hoot torpedo, by contrast a very real threat to traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The source of the stealthy technology is without doubt our friends in China and Russia.

A few days ago, Iran released a propaganda video touting its new torpedo, which it says attains speeds of 100 meters per second–faster, according to the narrator, than is theoretically possible. (Gotta tinker with that theory.) The Iranian video also claims that the new torpedo is launched from ships equipped with stealth technology so they cannot be tracked or identified by radar.

You can watch the Iranian video on Power Line Video and judge for yourself how credible Iran’s claims are.

Video courtesy of MEMRI.

UPDATE: Earlier today, Iran claimed to have successfully test-fired a third missile:

Iranian television called it a “turning point” in its missile tests but gave no other details.

At the same time, the head of the Revolutionary Guards, Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi, said the United States must recognize Iran as a “big, regional power.”

Speaking on state television, Safavi said Iran could use the Straits of Hormuz to apply pressure on foreign powers. About two-fifths of the world’s oil supplies pass through the 34-mile-wide entrance to the Gulf.

“The Straits of Hormuz are a point of control and economic pressure on the energy transfer route for those foreign powers that might want to undermine regional security,” Safavi said.

He reiterated that Iran could defend itself against any invasion and added: “I advise Americans not to move toward a military strike against Iran.”

On Tuesday, Safavi called for foreign forces to leave the region. The U.S. 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain.

Via Power Line News.

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