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Published February 27, 2015

Feb. 25, 2015: A replica of a U.S. aircraft carrier is exploded by the Revolutionary Guard's speedboats during large-scale naval drills near the entrance of the Persian Gulf, Iran.(AP)

TEHRAN, Iran Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Friday announced it has test fired a "new strategic weapon" in the final day of a large-scale naval and air defense drill, saying the system would play a key role in any future battle against the United States.

The claim was a new show of force by Iran just weeks ahead of a deadline for reaching a deal over its nuclear program with the U.S. and other global powers.

Iran announced the test on the final day of military drills it is calling "Great Prophet 9." The exercises are being held near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about a fifth of the world's oil passes.

Iran often holds live-fire war games and frequently boasts of advances in its weaponry that cannot be independently verified. The latest drill, which included a simulated attack on an American aircraft carrier, appears to be aimed at sending a message that Iran has no intention of backing down to the U.S. in the nuclear talks.

Adm. Ali Fadavi, the Republican Guard's naval chief, said the new weapon would be critical in any future naval war against the U.S.

"The new weapon will have a very decisive role in adding our naval power in confronting threats, particular by the Great Satan, the United States," he told the guard's website, sepahanews.com.

He did not elaborate, though state TV showed a short video of missiles being launched into the sky from under the water. Iran is known to have an advanced arsenal of missiles capable of striking as far away as Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.

The U.S. and world powers are in the final stages of talks that they hope will reach an agreement over Iran's nuclear program. The international community suspect Iran is trying to develop a nuclear-weapons capability. Iran denies the charges, saying its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. The two sides hope to reach a framework agreement in the coming weeks and a final deal in June.

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Iran test fires 'strategic weapon' in naval drill

TEHRAN, March 8 (UPI) -- Iran revealed a new land-based, long-range missile system on Sunday, three days after its foreign minister said negotiations with the United States involving Iran's nuclear program "have made good progress."

The "Soumar," a cruise missile system capable of hitting land targets up to 1,500 miles away, was unveiled in a ceremony in Tehran attended by senior Iranian defense officials.

Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehqan said the system "enjoys different characteristics in terms of range and pinpoint accuracy in comparison with the previous products," advancements he considers "crucial steps toward increasing the country's defense and deterrence might."

The unveiling comes during talks with the West over Iran's nuclear program that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has called "difficult." The negotiations aim to restrain Iran's nuclear capability in return for a drop of economic sanctions against the country.

On March 2 Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said sanctions on his country should be "lifted all at once" because of its commitment to the talks.

In a speech to the U.S. Congress the next day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "This deal won't change Iran for the better. It will only change the Middle East for the worse."

President Barack Obama said Netanyahu's speech "offered no viable alternatives" to a deal with Iran and promised to veto any legislation Congress passes "that threatens to undo" progress in the talks.

On March 4 negotiations resumed and on March 5 Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said they had made "good progress" but that there was still a "long way to go."

Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, on Saturday called Israel, whose capital Jerusalem lies just over 1,100 miles from Tehran, an "illegitimate state." According to Mehr News, he said Israel was aware of its imminent downfall since missiles from militant Lebanese group Hezbollah now covered the range of Palestinian territories.

Late last month Iran's Revolutionary Guards blew up a mock U.S. aircraft carrier during wargames in the Strait of Hormuz. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, the Guard's chief commander, told Iranian media the purpose of the drills "is that others should pay good heed to the point that they should not take any action near the Islamic Republic's security circle."

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Iran unveils new land-based cruise missile system amid nuclear talks

Published February 17, 2015

Feb. 8, 2015: In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers speech during a meeting with air force commanders and officers in Tehran. (AP Photo/Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader)

TEHRAN, Iran Iran's supreme leader has criticized the film "American Sniper," saying the movie about a U.S. soldier fighting in Iraq encourages violence against Muslims, a state-run newspaper reported Tuesday.

The comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, published in the daily IRAN Farsi newspaper, come amid renewed criticism of the West by the leader as his country negotiates with world powers over its contested nuclear program.

The newspaper quoted Khamenei as saying he hadn't watched the film directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper, but had heard about its plot from others. The film focuses on the life of U.S. Navy SEAL marksman Chris Kyle, who with 160 confirmed kills is considered the most lethal sniper in American military history.

"The movie `Sniper' that is made by Hollywood encourages a Christian or non-Muslim youngster to harass and offend the Muslims as far as they could," the newspaper quoted Khamenei as saying.

Khamenei also reportedly discussed neo-Nazis attacking Muslims in Germany, saying Muslims have no safety in the West.

"You are seeing what sort of propaganda there are against Muslims in Europe and the U.S.," he reportedly said.

The newspaper said Khamenei made the comments while meeting representatives of Iranian religious minorities in the country's parliament three weeks ago. The newspaper did not explain why it was publishing the comments now.

"American Sniper" has been a sensation at the box office, earning more than $300 million in North America since its release in December.

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Iran's supreme leader reportedly slams 'American Sniper'

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Iran and members of the international community are working to resolve long-standing issues over the country's controversial nuclear program. A sanctions package from November 2013 allows Iran to export some crude oil in exchange for concessions on nuclear research.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said sanctions on his country should be "lifted all at once" because of its commitment to nuclear talks.

"Iran has always honored its commitments and it is currently clear to everyone that Iran is a completely serious side in the talks," he said in a statement Sunday.

Yukiya Amano, general director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, briefed delegates in Austria on the progress of the talks. Iran, he said, has verified it hasn't diverted any of its declared nuclear material to non-peaceful activity.

"However, the agency is not in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities," he said in a statement.

Iran is working on a budget for a new year that begins mid-March that diminishes the weight given to oil revenue. Already, Rouhani said the economic progress "has been like a miracle," even under the weight of sanctions.

The Iranian economy emerged from recession in December.

Iranian officials in Tehran said Monday that even if sanctions are lifted, the government needs to ensure economic progress can continue.

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Iran President Rouhani: Lift sanctions over nuclear talks

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