“In the not too distant future, the Muslim people of Turkey will witness the births of children with deformities, cancer and incurable diseases as a result of the radar,” the Fars news agency quoted the commander of the Pasdar air force, Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, as saying Friday.
Hajizadeh did not explain why the radar in Turkey would cause disease and deformities but the radars which operate from the middle of Tehran at Mehrabad airport have no such impact.
The general also said the US radar, which is part of a broader missile defense shield for Europe, is actually an act of submission to Israel. Iran has long claimed the defense shield is intended to protect Israel from Iranian attack, not Europe from Iranian attack.
But Hajizadeh played down the military role of the radar, saying, “We have arrangements that will definitely render the shield ineffective and we will demonstrate the methods and tactics to counter the missile shield in time of action.”
In September 2011, Ankara announced its decision to allow the deployment of a US radar in the Kurecik district of its eastern province of Malatya. The radar began operating in December. It has added to the frictions in Iran-Turkish relations.
Small numbers of Turks have held protests to voice their opposition to the radar system, saying the station will be of no benefit to Turkey and even endanger the country’s interests.
General Hajizadeh openly threatened Turkey, adding to the frazzled relations between the two countries. He said, “If any operation is launched against us from any point—from whatever country, it makes no difference to us—we will definitely counterattack. For that purpose, the enemy bases in neighboring countries have been fully reconnoitered,” a curious public admission of spying on Turkish territory.