Agricultural Biotechnology

One of Iran's primary biotech focuses is research on agricultural science. In this field, Iran's research is concentrated in creating genes that produce toxins against insect pests; improving the biological resistance of plants; formulating new pesticides; improving techniques of spraying or otherwise disseminating pesticides; investigating the effects on native plant species after they have been introduced to various pests and diseases; preventing the production of mycotoxins in crops; producing plant viruses and their corresponding antiserums for an antiserum bank; and manufacturing pheromones and hormones to combat arthropods that harm Iran's agricultural industry. All of these research areas have legitimate and important uses for improving crop yields and reducing the threat to Iran's agricultural industry posed by pests and disease. However, the expertise, equipment, and methodologies involved are intrinsically dual-use, and thus could conceivably be applied for illicit purposes if so desired.

Genetic Engineering and Vaccine Production

Iran maintains three important facilities for research on combating the spread of disease. Two of these facilities, the Pasteur Institute and the National Research Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NRCGEB), focus primarily on diseases affecting human beings, while the third facility, the Razi Institute for Serum and Vaccines focuses on diseases affecting both humans and other animals such as livestock. The Razi and Pasteur Institutes have vaccine development and production experience dating back to the 1920s, and for many years both of these facilities were recognized among the most advanced of their kind in the developing world. Today, all three facilities undertake projects requiring advanced microbiology and genetic engineering equipment and expertise that could be applied toward the production of biological weapons. For instance, the NRCGEB's research in recombinant DNA technologies, genetic engineering, and DNA vaccine production could conceivably be utilized to increase the virulence or resistance of select pathogens. The equipment for mass-producing vaccines and antiserums at the Pasteur Institute could be utilized to mass-produce biological weapons as well.

As is evident from the contents of the Persian Type Culture Collection discussed below, Iran clearly has access to many dangerous pathogens. Furthermore, Iran clearly possesses technology useful for producing biological weapons (as will be elucidated in the Facilities section of this profile). What remains unclear is whether Iran is indeed proceeding with a BW program. Like many facilities throughout the United States and Western Europe that have similar or even more advanced capabilities, these facilities are open to public scrutiny. Also, like many facilities in the West, Iran's leading biotechnology research and development facilities create valuable vaccine products that are distributed in Iran and throughout the world.

Iran's Biological Agents

 Pathogens that could theoretically be weaponized

BW Agent	Type	International Number	Assessment	Weaponization
Bacillus cereus	Bacteria	RI 342 ATCC 11778 – PCI 213 NCTC 1032 – ATCC 9334 Dth 101 CIP 78.03	Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes	Bacteria	RI 270 287 367 344 11318 164-1 212-85	Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes Serotype: 1	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes Serotype: 2	Bacteria	ATCC 19112 – NCTC 5348	Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes Serotype: 4a	Bacteria	ATCC 19114 – NCTC 5214	Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes Serotype: 4b	Bacteria	ATCC 19115	Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes Serotype: 4ab	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes Serotype: 4d	Bacteria	ATCC 19117	Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes Serotype: 4e	Bacteria	ATCC 19118	Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes Serotype: 5	Bacteria	ATCC 19119	Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes Serotype: 6a	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Listeria monocytogenes Serotype: 6b	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis	Bacteria	RI 273 NCTC 8315	Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella enteritidis	Bacteria	RI 78	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella paratyphi-A	Bacteria	RI 437 NCTC 5702	Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella paratyphi-B	Bacteria	RI 409 NCTC 8390	Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella paratyphi-C	Bacteria	RI 439	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella typhi	Bacteria	RI 154 NCTC 786	Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Vibrio cholarae (Tnaba)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Vibrio cholerae (Ogawa)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Yersinia enterocolitica	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella typhimurium	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Shigella dysenteriae	Bacteria	RI 366	Possesses	Unknown
Shigella boydii	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Shigella blexneri	Bacteria	NCTC 8516	Possesses	Unknown
Cryptococcus neoformans	Bacteria	RI 518	Possesses	Unknown

Nonpathogenic agents that have been used to simulate BW agents by others in the past

BW Agent	Type	International Number	Assessment	Weaponization
Bacillus subtilis	Bacteria	ATCC 465 ATCC 6633 ATCC 12711 – PRL B92 NCTC 5398 NCIM 2479 – NCIB 8646 – ATCC 12711	Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Serratia marcescens	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus spp.	Bacteria	NCIMB 11259 NRR 5350	Possesses Possesses
Bacillus thuringiensis (Aizawai)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Alesti)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Canadensis)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Dakota)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Darmstadiensis)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Finitimus)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Galaeriae)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Indiana)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Kenyae)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Kumamotoensis)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Kyushuensis)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Morrisoni)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Ostriniae)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Pakistani)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Sotlo)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Thompsoni)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Thuringiensis)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Tochigiensis)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Tohokuensis)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Tolworthi)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Bacillus thuringiensis (Toumanoffii)	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown

 Pathogens not likely to be weaponized

BW Agent	Type	International Number	Assessment	Weaponization
Corynebacterium diphtheriae	Bacteria	RI 191 RI 131 RI 129	Possesses	Unknown
Corynebacterium renale	Bacteria	ATCC 10849 – NCTC 11141	Possesses	Unknown
Haemophilus ducreyi	Bacteria	RI 263	Possesses	Unknown
Klebsiella pneumoniae	Bacteria	ATCC 10031 – PCI 602 – NCIB 9111 NCTC 5056	Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Mycobacterium bovis	Bacteria	RI 223	Possesses	Unknown
Mycobacterium leprae	Bacteria	RI 242	Possesses	Unknown
Mycobacterium tuberculosis	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Pasteurella haemolytica	Bacteria	RI 47	Possesses	Unknown
Pasteurella multocida	Bacteria	RI 60	Possesses	Unknown
Pseudomonas aeruginosa	Bacteria	ATCC 12175 – RI 349 ATCC 9027 RI 327 CIP A22	Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Proteus mirabilis (oxk)	Bacteria	ATCC 15146 – RI 235	Possesses	Unknown
Proteus mirabilis	Bacteria	RI 171	Possesses	Unknown
Proteus morgani	Bacteria	RI 455	Possesses	Unknown
Proteus vulgaris	Bacteria	RI 234 16, SS NCIB 8066 – ATCC 7829, 1950	Possesses Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Proteus vulgaris (ox19 strain)	Bacteria	ATCC 6380 – RI 82	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella abortus-equi	Bacteria	RI 378	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella anatum	Bacteria	RI 20	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella ovranienburg	Bacteria	RI 88	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella arizonae	Bacteria	ATCC – 13314 – NCTC 8297 – RI 459	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella derby	Bacteria	RI 167	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella dublin	Bacteria	RI 24	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella essen	Bacteria	RI 54	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella gallinarum	Bacteria	RI 14	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella havana	Bacteria		Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella london	Bacteria	RI 261	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella moscow	Bacteria	RI 79	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella newport	Bacteria	RI 440	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella panama	Bacteria	RI 431	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella poona	Bacteria	RI 275	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella pullorum	Bacteria	RI 7	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella rostock	Bacteria	RI 80	Possesses	Unknown
Salmonella sebtenberg	Bacteria	RI 430	Possesses	Unknown
Staphylococcus aureus	Bacteria	ATCC 6538P NCIB 6571 – NRRL B-314 – NCTC 6571 Bristol A 9596 ATCC 29737	Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Enterococcus faecalis (Streptococcus Group D)	Bacteria	CIP 55.142 ATCC 11700 DSM 20409 NCIB 8661	Possesses Possesses Possesses Possesses	Unknown
Candida albicans	Bacteria	ATCC 10231	Possesses	Unknown

 Addendum: Agents identified by alternative/unofficial sources

BW Agent	Type	International Number	Assessment	Weaponization
Variola major	Virus		Possible	Unknown
Botulinum toxin	Toxin		Unknown	Unknown
Salmonella typhi	Bacteria		Unknown	Unknown

Key Sources: Persian Type Culture Collection, <http://database.irost.net/>; Anthony Cordesman, "Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iran," <http://www.csis.org/mideast/reports/WMDinIran4-28-98.html>; Proliferation: Threat and Response 2001, Office of the Secretary of Defense, pp. 33-35.

	Updated February 2006