Iran is engaged in an aggressive effort to develop an arsenal of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the missiles to Deliver them. Iran is also a violator of human rights and a Sponsor of international terrorism. These policies are of concern to countries around the world.

Where has Iran been getting much of the expertise and high technology it needs for its advanced weapons program? One Important supplier is Russia. This was made clear in a recent report to U.S. senators by George Tenet, Director of Central Intelligence. "Especially in the last six months," said Mr. Tenet, "expertise and materiel from Russia have continued to assist the Iranian missile effort in areas ranging from training, to testing, to components. The assistance is continuing. . .and there is no doubt that it will play a crucial role in Iran's ability to develop more sophisticated and longer range missiles."…

Over the past two decades, the Tehran regime has proven itself to be dangerous both at home and abroad. That is why the spread of sophisticated weapons technology to Iran is a serious threat….
 
 

NJ Executive Pleads Guilty to Iran Arms Scheme, Reuter, Mar. 3
 

NEWARK—A New Jersey aviation executive pleaded guilty on Wednesday for his part in a scheme to ship U.S.-made missile and military jet parts to Iran.

U.S. policy forbids sending technology, defense articles and goods and services to Iran, which Washington says supports international terrorism.

Authorities charged the man with planning to sell Iran 20 batteries for the AIM-54 Phoenix missile, a long-range air-to-air missile used exclusively on F14-A fighter aircraft, in violation of the Arms Control Export Act.
 
 

Growing Missile Threat From Iran, The Washington Times, March 3

[Excerpts from an article by James Hackett]

As the Clinton administration focuses attention on Kosovo, a far greater threat to U.S. and allied security is developing in Iran, 2,000 miles to the east. An American military commitment to peacekeeping in Kosovo appears imminent….

…Iran today is using its oil wealth to build a new center of power in the Middle East.

Last July, the Rumsfeld Commission report on the ballistic missile threat to the United States said, "the extraordinary level of resources" Iran is using to develop its own ballistic missiles "poses a substantial and immediate danger to the U.S., its vital interests and its allies." It went on to describe a sophisticated ballistic missile infrastructure in Iran that has benefited from long-term assistance from Russia, and important assistance from China and North Korea.

The report contradicted intelligence estimates of recent years, which essentially said not to worry, there will be no missile threat to the United States for at least 15 years. In Iran, the Rumsfeld Commission reported "every rapid progress" on the Shahab-3 medium range ballistic missile. With a range of 800 miles, the Shahab-3 threatens all of Israel and much of Turkey with chemical weapons.

Iran has chemical weapons, is conducting research in biologicals, and is pursuing a very aggressive nuclear weapons program that is close to success. With the nuclear weapons of India and Pakistan out of the closet, Iran is expected to be the next declared nuclear state. The commission said, "The only issue as to whether or not Iran…already has a nuclear weapon is the amount of fissile material available to it. Because of significant gaps in our knowledge, the U.S. is unlikely to know whether Iran possesses nuclear weapons until after the fact."

That was July 15. One week later, on July 22, Iran conducted a flight test of the Shahab-3, continuing an ambitious missile development program that began during the 1980-88 war with Iraq. Not waiting for more tests, President Mohammad Khatami ordered 15 Shahab-3s to be produced by the end of March 1999. The mobile launchers are ready and Iranian soldiers have been training for months to deploy the missile, which is expected to become operational this year….

In a Feb. 7 press conference, Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani confirmed that the Shahab-3 is now in production, and that no further flight tests are needed. He added that engine tests of the longer-range Shahab-4 will begin soon. Then he mimicked the North Korean claim that its recent test of a Taepo Dong missile was to put a satellite in orbit, claiming the Shahab-4 also is a satellite-launcher rocket and not a missile.

Tehran has been boasting for two years that it already has the most powerful missile force in the Middle East. With continuing help from entities in Russia and China, U.S. and Israeli officials estimate that Shahb-4 could be in service by 2001. Work also is under way on a long-range missile that with a nuclear warhead could be a serious threat to Western Europe and the United States….

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