Iran tests new air-to-surface missile; Former Iranian Prime Minister Mousavi announces candidature for presidential election; Rafsanjani Re-elected Assembly of Experts chairman
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  • Iran stated that it had successfully armed its fighter jets with a new type of air-to-surface missiles with a range of 110km. The missile, weighing 500kg, can hit and destroy maritime targets. An automatic guidance capability for the missile and its special warhead designed for destroying major maritime targets were among the other important features of the missile1. Reports also stated that Iran had also developed and installed modern radar and launching systems on its fighter jets that would enhance the precision target capabilities of the jets.

    Former prime minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi officially announced his candidacy for the June presidential election on March 10. Mousavi, who served as prime minister from 1981 to 1989, refused to run for president in 1997 and 2005 after much speculation. Former president Mohammad Khatami and National Confidence Party leader Mahdi Karroubi are also the two reformist hopefuls who have officially declared their candidacies so far. Mousavi has stated that the main reason for his candidature is his concern that the country’s laws were being circumvented and it this was allowed to continue, it would pose a real threat to the Islamic Republic2.

    Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani meanwhile was reelected as the Assembly of Experts chairman. He received 51 of the 79 votes cast. He is also the chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council. Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi were also elected as the first and second deputy chairmen of the Assembly of Experts. The Assembly of Experts is constitutionally tasked to appoint and supervise the Leader. Assembly of Experts representatives are elected to eight-year terms in a general election3.

    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and the visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari held wide-ranging talks in Tehran and expressed their resolve to enhance bilateral ties between the two countries, particularly in the fields of energy, trade and economy. Mr. Zardari noted that Pakistan-Iran relations “do not reflect the brotherly feelings we have with each other” and called for their improvement.

    Pakistani Zardari also met Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the sidelines of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in Tehran and discussed various issues of mutual interest, including ways to jointly combat terrorism and militancy, which was posing a common threat to peace and security in the region4. The ECO was founded by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey in 1985. Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan later joined the group.

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