- Iran has been supplied by Russia with powerful new technology
and parts for long-range missiles that will put Israel and the whole of
the Middle East - including British and US forces in the region - within
its reach, The Telegraph has learned.
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- The missiles' range of up to 1,300 miles would also allow
Iran to strike parts of North Africa and of south-eastern Europe.
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- Successful test-firings were conducted this summer with
the help of Russian and North Korean scientists at a desert range in central
Iran, according to the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran
(NCRI) and American intelligence.
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- Teheran has been pressing ahead with its plans to become
an international missile power in tandem with its efforts to develop compatible
chemical warheads.
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- The revelations about Moscow's new role in building the
military strength of a state named as part of the "axis of evil"
by President Bush follow American anger earlier this year when it emerged
that Russia was building a new Iranian light-water nuclear power reactor.
The plant is seen as a front for gaining nuclear weapons expertise.
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- The NCRI has been told by its contacts within the regime
that Teheran twice successfully test-fired the new Shahab 4 missiles this
summer in front of the country's military leaders. Although Iran is widely
believed to be working secretly on the Shahab 4 project, the Pentagon believes
that the recent tests involved an upgraded version of the Shahab 3 missile.
Ali Shamkhani, the Iranian defence minister, insisted that the recent tests
featured the existing version of Shahab 3, which can strike targets about
800 miles away. Shahab 4 would have a range of about 1,300 miles, while
it is not known how far the upgraded Shahab 3 could reach.
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- Western and Israeli intelligence and the Iranian opposition
have received fresh details of the crucial contribution of Russian, North
Korean and Chinese scientists and companies in Teheran's missile programme,
though Iran routinely denies receiving foreign assistance.
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- The Shahab 3, based on the North Korean Nodong missile,
suffered two failed test launches out of three in 1998 and 2000. US intelligence
believes that the Russians have provided Iran with a powerful new motor
to replace at least one of the Nodong engines, making the upgraded Shahab
3 a Russian-North Korean hybrid.
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- The new Shahab 4 is based on the old Soviet SS-4 missile
and uses entirely Russian technology. The Russians have also provided high-grade
steel and special alloys for the Shahab 4 missile casing and for foil shielding
around guidance systems.
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- Teheran has signed a $7 million (£4.6 million)
contract with a Russian company for the transfer of SS-4 missile parts
to Teheran, according to documents seen by the NCRI.
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- The deal demolishes Iranian claims that they are not
working on the Shahab 4. Mr Shamkhani had boasted that Iran was working
on Shahab 4 in 2000, but then retracted his remarks after condemnation
by America and the EU.
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- Since then, Teheran has insisted that there is no Shahab
4. The White House is urging Russia to reduce its co-operation with Iran.
Moscow publicly denies supplying the Iranians with missile technology.
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- When presented with evidence of the deals, Russian officials
insisted that individual companies were acting without authorisation.
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- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/
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