Page 46 - IRANRptMar19

9.1.12 Defence sector news
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has unveiled a new locally designed submarine which the defence ministry said can fire missiles, Mehr News Agency reported on February 17.
The Iranian government has become increasingly strident in its showcasing of new weapons including rockets which can travel more than 2,500 km in recent weeks, to highlight achievements of the Islamic Republic’s 40th year of existence.
Rouhani, who was in the southern province of Hormozgan which borders the Persian Gulf, said the new submarine called Fateh (Conqueror) “will defend our waters” and is the latest addition to the Islamic Republic’s navy.
Iran’s president commented on recent attacks on the country including the February 13 attack on the southern Sistan and Baluchistan province, which saw some 30 Islamic Republic Guards Corps. (IRGC) killed in a bomb attack on a bus.
"We will not bow down to the hegemonic power. We are ready to sacrifice ourselves and spill our blood to protect Iran," he said.
The 600-tonne submarine launched on Sunday is equipped with torpedoes and naval mines and can operate more than 200m below sea level for up to five weeks.
Later on, at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was recorded as saying regarding missile technology “Is Iran expected to not defend itself?” following criticism of the country’s development of its military industry including rockets.
During the F ebruary 11 celebrations of the Islamic Republic , Rouhani repeated his line that the country has the right to develop its own missile technology. “We have not asked and will not ask for permission to develop different types of ... missiles and will continue our path and our military power,” news agencies reported Rouhani as saying in a speech before tens of thousands at Tehran’s Azadi (Freedom) Square.
9.2 Major corporate news 9.2.1 Oil & gas corporate news
Iran may have seen energy major Total pull out of the investment to develop Phase 11 of the giant South Pars gas field and it may be set to lose China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), which was supposed to upgrade its involvement to step into the French company’s shoes, but on December 15 official energy news agency SHANA reported the CEO of Iran’s Pars Oil and Gas Co. (POGC) as saying his company would alone extract some 630mcm/d from the resource next year.
As Iranian officials explored reports that the Chinese had suspended their involvement in developing part of what is the world’s largest gas field because it might interfere in their trade war talks with the US, POGC chief Mohammad Meshkinfam reportedly put forward the figure, saying it would mark a record increase in Phase 11 extraction. He said the fourth “train” of South Pars Phase 13 would come online within the next two weeks. The facility will be fed by the gas supplied from other phases of South Pars in the Persian Gulf.
Meshkinfam added that Phase 14 would become operational in the next few months, adding 28mcm/d to gas production.
On December 12, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh responded to
46 IRAN Country Report March 2019 www.intellinews.com