Iran Live Coverage: First the Space Monkey, Now a New Fighter Jet

0730 GMT: Earlier this week, Iranian State media's  headlines were of Tehran's first launch of a monkey into space.

That effort has run into complications. The publication of photographs of two different Space Monkeys led to claims that the passenger had not survived the trip 75 miles above Earth, or even that the mission never took place. On Saturday, an official explained that the confusion was because an archive photograph of another monkey had accidentally been used in publicity.

Never mind. The regime had moved on to other high-profile events before next week's anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Yesterday morning President Ahmadinejad and Minister of Defense Ahmad Vahidi led the ceremony unveiling the new F-313 fighter jet, named Qaher (Conqueror), for the "preservation of peace".

There are still cynics in the audience. Some observers soon noted that the Qaher displayed on video and in pictures lacked the components to be all-conquering or even to fly, with the small size indicated that the jet was a "mock-up" model. One specialist site, The Aviationist, said claimed video of the Qaher in flight might be of a remote-controlled plane, rather than a ful-sized fighter.

Never mind. There were other statements to be made. Revolutonary Guards commander Mohammad Hossein Sepehr declared that Iran is now a "global cyber-power", while Deputy Chief of Staff Masoud Jazayeri assured, “Syria’s response to the recent aggression of the Zionist regime against this country will send this regime into a coma."

And Press TV gives us a sneak peek at the next military treat: "The Islamic Republic of Iran will be unveiling upgraded versions of two domestically designed and manufactured battle tanks this week."

from EA WorldView: EA Iran

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