Iran: nuclear program not slowin

     An Iranian made Qassed "smart bomb" is seen at a munitions factory in Tehran August 26, 2007

 Iran on Sunday inaugurated a production line for manufacturing 2000-pound "smart bomb" that could be deployed by the country's F-4 and F-5 fighter jets, local Fars news agency reported.

    The bomb, named Qased or Messenger, is "an air-to-surface, long-range, guided bomb which has been designed through utilizing the most advanced technologies," Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar was quoted as saying.

    Once Qased is deployed, Iranian fighter jets can destroy enemy targets by this high-precision bomb without coming into the range of enemy fire, according to Najjar.

    Reiterating the home-grown nature of the bomb, Najjar said that Qased was designed in accordance with the needs of the Iranian air force to strategic arsenals and bombs.

    Iran's production of such new and strategic bombs, missiles and weapons aims to deter enemies from invading the country, he said, adding that "these equipment and instruments are meant to reinvigorate sustainable peace, stability and security in the region."

    Meanwhile, a four-part production line for making low-caliber piercing bullets, dubbed Saqeb or Meteor, was launched on Sunday.

    "The production line of the small caliber arsenals with high penetration power was actually inaugurated in line with the country's defense doctrine which underlines deterrence and all-out defense," Najjar said.

    The Iranian official stressed that the machineries of the two production lines could not be imported from other countries due to the West's sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

    "This is a teeth-breaking response to the sanctions of the world arrogance," he said. "Sanctions made our experts decisive to end Iran's dependence and promote the country's military potentials."