Reverse engineering: Using felled US drone, Iran developing UAVs

Visiting envoy admits Tehran supplies weapons to Hamas, Hezbollah.

ISLAMABAD:

The world may be on Iran’s case regarding its development of nuclear technology – but the country is now working on a new programme that may be of great interest, or concern, to the US.

The US may not be the only country with advanced drone technology for long – at least not if Iran has anything to do with it. According to a high-ranking Iranian official, Tehran is hopeful of developing the advanced technology after its army electronic welfare unit successfully brought down an intact US drone last year.

Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee (NSFPC) Chairman Alaeddin Boroujerdi said reverse engineering would be used to figure out the technology, while speaking at a policy seminar organised by the Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production on Tuesday.

Boroujerdi emphasised the need for the two neighbours to work on ties, saying, “Pakistan and Iran should enhance economic and defence relations.” He added that Iran was committed to the gas pipeline project.

In another dramatic announcement, the NSFPC chairman openly admitted that Iran supplies arms and ammunition to Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, while adding, “This support was purely based on principle and not religious denominations.”

Meanwhile, in words which are usually reserved for traditional ally, the US, the Senate Defence Committee Chairperson Mushahid Hussain called for stronger political, economic and security ties with Tehran. He said it was very possible for the two countries to have no conflict of interest.

Hussain reassured, “India, which backed out of the Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline project under US pressure, will rejoin,” adding that it would be a major step towards promoting peace and regional cooperation.

In a rare admission of guilt, the senate committee chairperson pointed out that it was about time Pakistan and Iran learn from their past mistakes, when polices in both countries led to drawn out strife in Afghanistan. Hussain also stated that Pakistan supported Iran’s right to undertake nuclear enrichment for peaceful purposes in accordance with IAEA safeguards.

Meeting with PM

Later on Tuesday, Boroujerdi met Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf at his residence.

The premier noted that close economic ties between the two countries were reflected in cooperation on the gas pipeline project, electricity and infrastructure projects. “Iran and Pakistan have shared objectives and both the countries have to work in tandem for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan,” he said, adding that a stable Afghanistan was in the best interests of Pakistan and Iran in particular.

Boroujerdi told Prime Minister Ashraf that Tehran was keen to expand its relations with Islamabad. He thanked the premier, who asked him to convey his best wishes to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.


Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2012.