Iran Shows Off Its Ballistic Missile Reach.

Iran just launched two intermediate ballistic missiles the other day that nearly hit the UK base in Diego Garcia about 2,500 miles away in the Indian Ocean. One broke up in mid-flight and the other was shot down by a U.S. warship, according to a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity. The official added that the launch had surprised the United States because of its range.

One of our major overseas naval bases in Naples, Italy, as well as Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, are within that range, not to mention all of our military bases in the Middle East.

It is merely a matter of time before Iran will have intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland - unless their military capability to achieve that is destroyed and not allowed to be reconstituted.

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DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

I'm surprised they didn't already have it. They are trading partners with Russia and the Caspian sea is right there.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@DeWayfarer Well they did have it for years. They just didn’t use it before.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@CedricH I doubt even Trump wants to make an issue of that though. That would mean he would have to do something about it. And he won't.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@DeWayfarer You‘re referring to the arms trade between Russia and Iran?

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@CedricH In particular drones!

CedricH · 22-25, M

@DeWayfarer Yes, well it will hopefully be a moot point if the regime falls but the IAF has already expanded operations to the Iranian ports on the Caspian sea which are the preferred points of entry for these illegal shipments. Mind you, any export of weapons to Iran is in direct contravention of an extant and biding UNSC resolution which was originally supported by the Russian Federation.
(Not that that would stop Putin‘s regime)

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@CedricH Please don't not say that Iranian drones were not used years ago in the war with Ukraine.

Russia has violated multiple agreements.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@DeWayfarer I didn‘t say that at all. Of course they were. Iran‘s regime has Ukrainian blood on their hands.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@CedricH BTW Turkmenistan is awfully friendly with Russia.

The IAF has little control there either.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@DeWayfarer Well, Turkmenistan has traditionally pursued a policy of neutrality and non-involvement since its independence and it wouldn’t want to become a potential target as a transshipment point.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@CedricH they are balancing themselves between Russia and China. No one else. Neither would take sides in this Iran issue. The IAF wouldn't interfere in that either.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@DeWayfarer Turkmenistan has no treaty allies, no foreign bases and a weak military, it would be vulnerable and in any case, the Russians haven’t provided any large-scale material support to the Iranians during the war. What they have provided so far is less tangible, technical and ISR support to optimize Iranian drone barrages. The Russians are cautious not too interfere too overtly and they need most of their weapons systems for their war in Ukraine.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@CedricH My point is the IAF won't interfere with that trade going on there. How it's done is a different matter. Sea ports are not the only answer.

Russia is using the barter system anyway.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@DeWayfarer It’s not a priority issue anyway. No large-scale shipments of Russian weapons to Iran, by land or by sea, have been reported thus far.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@CedricH for years nothing was reported. They are using the barter system.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@DeWayfarer Well, actually many of Russia‘s aircraft, missile defense and MANPAD sales to Iran were reported.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@CedricH the barter system is a trust system. You give this and I will give you that at some later point of time. You can't track that.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@DeWayfarer I‘m familiar with it and it can be tracked, that‘s the domain of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@CedricH Right! Just wait until they really space the timing. No intelligence agency is going to waste it's time.

9 gives you 10 the books on both sides right now are fully back logged just waiting for the right moment.