The World - News from Jan. 3, 1989

Prime Minister Hussein Moussavi said that Iran is nearing military self-sufficiency by building an advanced fighter plane and maintaining its aging U.S.-built F-4 and F-5 fighters, Tehran Television reported. Moussavi reportedly made the comment after inspecting Iranian air force facilities, but the televised report, monitored in Cyprus, showed footage of only one single-propeller trainer said to be locally built. He also said that Iran is now able to repair its U.S.-made Hawk surface-to-air missiles without outside help. Moussavi added that an Iranian-made passenger plane has been tested successfully and could be used for flights between smaller provincial cities.