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MILNET Briefs
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Middle East Map The
Iranian Military Update Iran From Space Axis of Evil Weapons Trade Nuclear War Prevention AFI Articles on IranMILNET Opinion
Where Next in War on
Terror: A Decision Matrix Iranian Death March
Axis of Evil Closes
Ranks The Iranian Bomb:
Sooner Than You Think
Mirrored on MILNET
CENTCOM Overview
Force Structure Data
Congressional Reporting
Service: Iran's Nuclear Program - Recent Developments
MILNET presents a compilation of data focusing on Iran and recent
events as well as the
U.S. Central Command's AOR Study for reference.
Iran has a recent history replete with contradiction. Once a country allied with the U.S., today it is viewed by the majority of countries as a radical, fundamental muslim country, antagonizing its neighbors. It is listed as one of the chief candidates by non-proliferation experts for developing weapons of mass destruction.
The U.S. Department of Defense lists Iran as a major disruptive force in the middle east, second only to Iraq. Iran's military strength is formidable when compared to its neighbors and today poses a threat to the world's major oil supplies if left unchecked.
In fact, Iran and Iraq have fought border wars, yielding extremely high casulties, with Saddam Hussien of Iraq authorizing use of poison gas to push back Iranian invaders. This in the later part of the twentieth century, decades after use of such weapons were prohibited by International Law.
Iranian activism following the ouster of the Shah or Iran, led to the pilage of the U.S. Embassy in Iran, and the capture of U.S. hostages. This year long ordeal demonstrated the helplessness of the world's strongest power when faced with terrorist actions such as kidnapping and hostage taking. The event, and subsequent rescue attempt are thought to have been a major contributor to the loss of U.S. President Jimmy Carter in his bid for a second term.
Interestingly enough, during the
Gulf War
between Iraq and a Coalition of U.N. forces, Iraq chose to fly a large
number of its fighter planes to Iran, Saddam Hussein deciding it was
better for a Muslim "brother" to have the aircraft rather than have
them
destroyed in the air or on the ground by Coalition forces. Iran does
not have the spare parts for these aircraft, therefore it is doubtful
that they
are operational. In any case, after nearly ten years of disuse, they
are little more than airframes in need of major repair. With arms
embargos on Iran as a result of their sponsorship of terrorism, there
is little hope for
replenishment of U.S. or Russian built aircraft spares. Some ten
years later, intelligence sources indicate the fighters have become
unflyable and ready for the junkyard.
Iran is a leading terrorist supporting nation (second only to Sudan) and is listed as such in both U.N. and U.S. foreign policy documents including a Presidential Directive banning trade with Iran. Very strong U.S. intelligence evidence linked the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City to Iranian fundamentalist-extremists. This evidence was used in the trials of those accused of the bombing, winning convictions. Iran is listed as one of the countries supporting terrorism through its support of SDT (Specially Designated Terrorisst) and subject to special U.S. TSRs (Terrorism Sanction Regulations).
Iran is also a major devisive element in the Middle East peace process,
and as such has additional sanctions placed upon them.
