US accepts Shahab-3s in Iran’s missile arsenal, but not long-range ICBMs. Deep resentment in Jerusalem.
DEBKAfile Special Report May 18, 2014, 9:16 AM (IDT)
Iran’s Shahab-3 can reach all Mid East points
Two high-ranking US visitors to Israel, National Security Adviser Susan Rice and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, publicly assured Israel this month that the Obama administration “would do what it must” to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. Yet at the same time, the same administration informed Tehran that the demand to restrict Iran’s missile arsenal did not apply to the Shahab-3 ballistic missile, whose range of 2,100km covers any point in the Middle East, including Israel. This missile carries warheads weighing 760 kg, to 1.1 tons, which may also be nuclear.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon challenged both Rice and Hagel on this omission. It came to light from Washington’s demand, in its direct dialogue with Tehran outside the framework of the six-power talks in Vienna, to place restrictions on Iran’s arsenal of ICBMs whose 4,000 km range places Europe and the United States at risk.
The Obama administration said it was not demanding restrictions on the medium-range missiles capable “only” of striking Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. But the comprehensive nuclear accord when it is finally negotiated must apply restrictions on the Sajjil1, Safir, Simorg (satellite launcher), Ashura1 and Ashura2 (other versions of the Sajjil class).
But this US “concession” did not placate Tehran. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei burst out on May 11: “They expect us to limit our missile program while they constantly threaten Iran with military action. So this is a stupid idiotic expectation.” He thereupon ordered missile plants to shift to mass production.
Hagel was not just queried in Israel on this point, but also by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council, when he attended their defense ministers’ meeting in Jeddah Wednesday, May 14. Saudi Crown Prince Salman was in the chair.
When Hagel assured those present that their countries had nothing to fear from the rapprochement between Washington and Tehran, he was asked to fully explain President Obama’s policy on Iran’s missile arsenal. He replied that the plan was to establish a common anti-missile defense network for the region.
In Jerusalem, the defense secretary assured Netanyahu and Ya’alon that the close US-Israeli collaboration in maintaining one of the most sophisticated anti-missile shields in the world was sufficient security against Iranian Shahab-3 ballistic missiles.
A joint US-Israeli exercise against missile attack, Cobra Juniper, which takes place every two years, began Sunday, May 18, with the participation of 1,000 US servicemen.
However, neither Jerusalem nor the Gulf leaders accepted Washington’s explanations. Their disquiet was further exacerbated by the failure of latest round of nuclear negotiations with the six powers, which took place in Vienna Thursday, May 15, to bridge gaps between the sides and so prevented a start on the drafting of a final accord.
These widening gaps reflect the growing controversy over nuclear diplomacy in Tehran.
Saturday night, May 17, President Hassan Rouhani speaking to associates at a private meeting voiced his frustration with Khamenei: “That person thinks he knows everything and lays down policy without considering all the facts,” he complained.
Rouhani understands that tactical compromises will not bring about substantial relief from economic sanctions that at preying on his country. He is urging substantial concessions of Iran’s nuclear aspirations, enough to convince the world that his country is not after a nuclear weapon.
Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guards have rejected this approach. They are not open to real concessions either on their nuclear program or missile arsenal. This intransigence shows no sign of softening under the Obama administration’s willingness for compromise at the expense of Iran’s potential targets.
Explore posts in the same categories: Uncategorized
This entry was posted on May 18, 2014 at 10:21 AM and is filed under Uncategorized. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
WarSclerotic 
May 18, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Reblogged this on Liberalism is Trust Fucked with Prudence. Conservatism is Distrust Tainted with Fear and commented:
Quit insulting science for Elvis penis sake. Pedarsagh!
When Iran will quit importing pencils from India and be able to make their own. By That time, they probably get lucky to draw the picture of long-range ICBMs.
This breaking ain’t but paid edition alas crude propaganda driven by US Industrial Complex Franchisers to scarecrow Saudi and its GCC poodles to pour more money into Pentagonjunk to protect ‘em from Iran.
The US foreign Policy is drawn by the US Military Complex endangered species who ain’t getting any order from neither Saudi nor its GCC poodles for PantagonJunk. Khamenei ain’t got balls to use the toilet without Bibi’s permission.
Back to Hagel & Rice Israel visit this month.
Both were frogmarched by US Military Complex to Dumbdown Israelis that without Iran’s help to fire rockets outta Gaza into Israel, Israelis wouldn’t dream to get $900M antiballistic missiles iron dome free of charge from Washington.
Don’t jump! To silence moaning and nagging Jews. Pentagon debited the cost from foodstamps or Obamacare.
Should you think that Iran, Israel and Saudis ain’t buddies then you seriously need a pederast to ram your tailgate.
Since your precedent’s prime source is PRESSTV and its siblings: FARSNEWS. Congrats. You got my permission go ahead shove this breaking up into your Ass.
وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَـكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِن تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَث. مثلهُ كالصعلوك الذي تأبط شراً فبال في بئر زمزم امام الملاء ظَّنّاً بالشهره ان لم يكن مدحا فذما به كمذهبهِ الكلبي كما ذهب
May 18, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Quit insulting science for Elvis penis sake. Pedarsagh!
When Iran will quit importing pencils from India and be able to make their own. By That time, they probably get lucky to draw the picture of long-range ICBMs.
This breaking ain’t but paid edition alas crude propaganda driven by US Industrial Complex Franchisers to scarecrow Saudi and its GCC poodles to pour more money into Pentagonjunk to protect ‘em from Iran.
The US foreign Policy is drawn by the US Military Complex endangered species who ain’t getting any order from neither Saudi nor its GCC poodles for PantagonJunk. Khamenei ain’t got balls to use the toilet without Bibi’s permission.
Back to Hagel & Rice Israel visit this month.
Both were frogmarched by US Military Complex to Dumbdown Israelis that without Iran’s help to fire rockets outta Gaza into Israel, Israelis wouldn’t dream to get $900M antiballistic missiles iron dome free of charge from Washington.
Don’t jump! To silence moaning and nagging Jews. Pentagon debited the cost from foodstamps or Obamacare.
Should you think that Iran, Israel and Saudis ain’t buddies then you seriously need a pederast to ram your tailgate.
Since your precedent’s prime source is PRESSTV and its siblings: FARSNEWS. Congrats. You got my permission go ahead shove this breaking up into your Ass.
وَلَوْ شِئْنَا لَرَفَعْنَاهُ بِهَا وَلَـكِنَّهُ أَخْلَدَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَمَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ إِن تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْهِ يَلْهَثْ أَوْ تَتْرُكْهُ يَلْهَث. مثلهُ كالصعلوك الذي تأبط شراً فبال في بئر زمزم امام الملاء ظَّنّاً بالشهره ان لم يكن مدحا فذما به كمذهبهِ الكلبي كما ذهب
May 18, 2014 at 3:43 PM
alakhtal…
Are you humor or nut-case?
May 18, 2014 at 2:43 PM
Reblogged this on Serve Him in the Waiting.
May 18, 2014 at 3:01 PM
Why is Israel so shocked, SHOCKED, mind you, that Obama sells out Israel, which he did a long time ago? Does Israel keep up with current events? Even Kerry, the Energizer Nitwit, admits that Iran can build a bomb in 2 months. Why is Israel still begging the US instead of bombing Iran RIGHT THIS MINUTE? Because Bibi has no guts to bomb Iran. The US is now rushing to bribe Israel with more military aid and is also smacking Israel around with blame and abuse over the Palenazis. So what does Bibi do? He whimpers and does nothing. Every day the situation gets worse.
Here are the facts:
An EMP would take out Iran but Bibi doesn’t have the guts because of the political fallout, since an EMP would paralyze the whole of Iran and its industry and everything else. But there is an alternative. EMPs are detonated above the atmosphere. A 300 mile up EMP would take out a whole country. But an EMP detonated at a much lower altitude would only paralyze smaller sections of a country. But the flip side of the coin is that if the EMP is at a low altitude it might also burn people on the ground or similar problems.
However, Iran has a huge desert, the Dash-e Kavir or Great Salt Desert that runs north-south through much of the country, starting just SE of Tehran and going south. If a low altitude EMP were dropped over the desert it could be detonated a lot lower since it’s a desert so less danger to people. Key nuclear sites run in a line from Tehran going south. So detonating a few EMPs relatively low over the Great Salt Desert would take out air defenses of key nuclear sites, paralyzing part but not the whole country, making a subsequent air attack a cakewalk.
So why does Bibi not do this? Because he is a suck up to Obama and in the end the US administration knows it can smack him around. Don’t bomb Iran, Bibi. Bow down to the US Appeaser in chief. See what you get.
May 18, 2014 at 3:37 PM
We’ll see…
In the meantime, thank providence that you’re not the one who has to make the decision.
May 19, 2014 at 12:39 PM
Understand that it is complete impossible for Israel to use nuclear devices first !
May 19, 2014 at 12:27 AM
We keep hearing this. The solemnity of it all, the pomp and circumstance. It’s such a HARD decision. Should we stop Iran, or should we let them get the bomb? Ooh. That’s a tuffy. Here’s an idea. Let’s just sit around and wait. Maybe we’ll scare Amalaik and he’ll turn over a new leaf. Just like in a fairy tale.
May 19, 2014 at 12:41 PM
Understand that it is complete impossible for Israel to use nuclear devices first !
May 19, 2014 at 3:14 PM
It’s obvious that Iran’s biggest fear is direct engagement with it’s enemies. They will and have used everything at their disposal to avoid such a thing. They know a direct attack on the US and Israel would result in their complete and total devastation.
Therefore, I submit, Iran’s weapons programs including nuclear are, first and foremost, defensive. This doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be used offensively as they will most certainly never take this option ‘off the proverbial table’. I just mean they will have more security in order to increase the intensity of proxy actions against their enemies.
That’s why I repeatedly call for everyone release a statement stating that it is policy to hold Tehran directly responsible for any proxy attack and respond accordingly. Will it work, who knows? If it can deter Iran further, than so be it.