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Iranian Weapons on America's Doorstep

(Washington Times) Joseph M. Humire - A few days before Iranian President Ahmadinejad's visit in June, Venezuela's ailing President Chavez unveiled the newest addition to his military arsenal: Iranian-designed, Venezuelan-built unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A Spanish media outlet recently reported that the drones could be a cover for a more threatening program in Venezuela, one that involves missile engineers and front companies that are part of Iran's missile and weapons-of-mass-destruction (WMD) programs. The Kimia Sanaat Co., an alias for the Iranian firm Qods Aviation Industries, is sanctioned by the UN for its involvement in Iran's missile and WMD programs. However, it is suspected of shipping more than 70 containers to a joint Iran-Venezuela auto manufacturer, Venirauto, located in Maracay, home of the joint Iran-Venezuela UAV program. In January 2011, another military site in Maracay went up in flames when an unusual explosion rocked the city and damaged the UAV facilities. Suspected of being involved in joint chemical projects is Parchin Chemical Industries, a subsidiary of the Iranian Ministry of Defense. Elsewhere, a Spanish newspaper reported that there are 145 credentialed Iranian diplomats operating in Bolivia, some of whom are trainers from the Revolutionary Guards of Iran.
2012-07-06 00:00:00
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