The Iranian nuclear program fills up the pockets of the weapon sellers

The area of the Middle East seems to be heaven on Earth for the weapon manufacturers of all sorts. After the wars from Iraq have filled the pockets of the great manufacturers of weapons, the war of statements between Iran, supported by a set of Jewish states on one hand and on another hand USA together with Israel launches the armament market in the area.

The refusal to drop out to the nuclear capacities of the regime from Tehran generated a real war of statements between USA and Iran. USA threatened to attack the oil producer from the Persian Gulf and the president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that he will destroy Israel.

Fighter planes against surface-to-air missile systems

The statements weren’t without results. Iran signed a transaction with Russia and purchased 29 surface-to-air missile systems TOR M1 for 700 million dollars. Moreover the Russians offered to also sell other surface-to-air missile systems even more powerful air defense system than the Tor-M1. The Jewish state reacted right away and has purchased 90 F-16I fighter planes that can carry enough fuel to reach to Tehran, and will receive 11 more by the end of next year. Moreover, it has bought two new Dolphin submarines from Germany reportedly capable of firing nuclear-armed warheads, in addition to the three it already has. So, the Israeli want to increase the psychological pressure against Iran, in case in which it will take place an open conflict to be able to block the Iranian nuclear program, if it isn’t possible to destroy it. Israel, itself an undeclared nuclear power, sees an atomic bomb in Iranian hands as a direct threat to its existence. Israel believes Tehran will be able to obtain enough uranium enriched for a nuclear bomb by next year or 2010 at the latest. Instead, the United States thinks that this won’t be possible earlier than 10 years. In general, Americans don’t think that Tehran is close of obtaining the nuclear bomb as the Israeli say but they are concerned that Iranians are working faster than anticipated for touching this objective. „If European, Israeli or  U.S secret services,  get proof that Iran has succeeded in developing nuclear weapons technology, then Israel will respond in a manner reflecting the existential threat posed by such a weapon,“ said Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, speaking at a policy forum in Washington last week.

Bunker buster bombs

Besides the weapons purchased till now, the Jewish state has also asked the Americans 1.000 bunker buster bombs that are worth about 80 million dollar. GBU-39, the bombs which Israel wants to purchase, are among the most efficient and precise ones, according to the experts in domain. With a weight of only 113 pounds (22,7 pounds of explosive), the bombe has the same effect of one of 900 kilograms. The US officials weren’t pleased of the transaction, theses being afraid that if Israel will continue to arm in this way it increases the risk that the Mediterranean state to launch an attack against Iran. Moreover, USA has also refused to Israel an authorization of cross country flight of the Iraq space that would have allowed to the Israeli airplanes to arrive faster in Iran. Instead, USA has offered to contribute to increase the defensive capacity of the Jewish state. So, over a month, it would follow to be installed in the desert Negev (south of Israel) an American system of performing radars that allow detecting the missiles launched from a distance of up to 2.000 kilometers – a distance twice higher than the one perceived by a device already positioned.  

The cost of an attack could be huge

If, although, Israel will opt for an attack, Israel will confront with a significant Iranian defensive force, which includes those 29 new surface-to-air missile systems Tor-M1 purchased from the Russians for 700 million dollar. Military experts say an Israeli strike would require aircraft to bombard multiple targets and heavy precision bombs that can blast through underground bunkers — something Israel failed to do in its 2006 war against Hezbollah. USA but has this capacity.  Yet the cost of an attack, by the U.S., Israel or both, is likely to be enormous. Iran could stop the oil production and shut down the Strait of Hormuz, which could generate a rise in price of crude oil and would wreck Western economies. Also, an attack could revive up Shiite militias, as also the militias from Lyban and Gaza Strip, from where Israel can be attacked with arsenal of Shahab-3 long-range missiles. Whether an attack on Iran would be worth its cost would depend on how long the nuclear program could be delayed, said Chuck Freilich, a former Israeli deputy national security adviser in US. „A two, three-year delay is not worth it. For a five to 10-year delay I would say yes,“ Freilich said.

An anti-missile system, worth of 7 billion dollar for United Arab Emirates  

The tensions related to Iran’s and Israel’s armament has put in guard also other players from the area, Friends of the Americans, the representatives of the United Arab Emirates have kept to strengthen the defense system for not being exposed to a hit of Tehran. The American administration plans on selling to the United Arab Emirates an advanced system of defense anti-missile, evaluated to over 7 billion dollar, that could be used against the ballistic missles of Iran, stated for Reuters, sources close to the deal. The Pentagon fallows to notify the Congress against this proposal, the first that aims the so-called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense - THAAD, built by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N). Raytheon Co (RTN.N) will assure the radar system. Once notified on this proposal, the Congress has available 30 days to notice the sale of armament. The system THAAD, which includes interceptors anti-missile, fire units and radars, could become operational in a year from approving the transaction.    An American expert states that the United Arabian Emirates plan on purchasing for a “sophisticated antidote” for the ballistic missiles of Iran. „The Emirates are concerned that could represent the subject of a revenge in case of an attack of USA or Israel on the Iranian nuclear facilities”, Kenneth Katzman, expert on Gulf problems from Congressional Research Service. For Iran, The Emirates can be an attracting target because of the investments of billion dollars in infrastructure. Craig Vanbebber, spokesman of  Lockheed Martin, stated that several countries showed to be interested of buying the system THAAD, „which disposes of a significant area and proved exceptional successes in the most recent tests”.