KHAMENEH'I DISMISS RAFSANJANI AS MISSILE PRODUCTION BOSS
Exclusive to IPS
TEHRAN 3RD Mar. (IPS) Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani has been removed from his responsibility as the highest authority in charge of Iran’s highly secret missile research and production programs, according to well-informed sources.
Ayatollah Ali Khameneh’i who, as the leader of the Islamic Republic, is also the Supreme Commander of all Iranian Armed Forces, the source added, took the decision of removing Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani from the highly sensitive and important post.
"As from 3 February, the job of High Controller of Missile Research and Production Operations was taken from Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani and transferred to the private office of Ayatollah Khameneh'i who immediately named Mr. Hoseyn Abedi, a high-ranking member of his inner-cabinet as the new High Supervisor of Missile Research and Production Unit", the source told Iran Press Service on condition of anonymity.
Ever since the break out of Iran-Iraq war in 1980, Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani, had taken over all operations related to the production of various types of missiles, the source said, adding that the Commander of the Joint Chiefs of staffs of Iranian Armed Forces would always report directly to the former President about the works, progress and situation of the country’s missile production.
Though no reason was given for the leader’s decision to discharge Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani from the job, but if confirmed, it would be a very serious blow to him, for, as the Chairman of the State’s Interests Discerning Assembly (SIDA), he is considered as the regime’s number two man, standing above the President.
Sources with access to some close allies of Mr. Khameneh'i said sharp divergences have surfaced between the two men concerning the handling of President Mohammad Khatami, the reform movement and particularly the students, with Mr. Hashemi-Rafsanjani insisting on a though, all repressive attitude in the one side, and the leader suggesting some degree of compromise with the Head of Executive, if not with the reformists he considers as "tools of the enemy" on the other.
The news about the dismissal of Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani came as informed military sources said mass production of the "Zelzal-II" rocket started from last month of February.
With a range of 350 kilometre and using solid-state fuel, the "Zelzal-II" is the advanced version of "Zelzal-I", produced by the Revolutionary Guards Self-Sufficiency Industries Mobilisation and shown for the first time some months ago during a military parade.
An Arab word taken from Muslim’s holy book Koran, "Zelzal" means earth shake.
Helped by North Korea, Russia and China in that respect, Iran has become a major producer of various types of rockets and missiles, including the "Shahin-III" that was test-fired last year.
Based on the North Korean "No-Dong" but improved with Russian technology, "Shahin-III" has a range of over 1.300 kilometre and can carry nuclear war-head, according to the Iranians.
American military experts said at the time that the missile’s test firing was not successful, but Iranians denied, claiming they deliberately exploded it before hitting its target, failing to explain the reasons. RAFSANJANI MISSILE 3301