Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

1985
Iran agrees to finance the North Korean missile program in exchange for missiles and missile technology. Iran also offers to assist in clandestine technology acquisition in the United States and Western Europe.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction The Case of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 20.

1985
The Semnan complex is built by the Chinese 175km east of Teheran to manufacture the Oghab, a 40km rocket believed to be based on the Chinese Type-83 design. The Oghab is launched from a Mercedes-Benz LA911B truck with three rockets per launcher.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction The Case of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 22.

1985
The Soviet Union indirectly provides surface-to-surface missiles (Scud-B) to Iran through Libya and Syria.
—Chubin Sharam "Iran and the War from Stalemate to Ceasefire," in Efraim Karsch, ed., Iran-Iraq War (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989), pp. 207-208.

1985
Iran first uses Scud-B missiles in March 1985, during the Iran-Iraq War. Iran launches as many as 14 of the missiles. A small number of missiles originally came from Libya, later more came from North Korea. The Scud-B, originally designed by the Soviets, has a range of 290-300km, is about 11 meters long, 85-90 centimeters in diameter, and weighs 6,300 kilograms. It is a single-stage, liquid-fueled missile capable of carrying a 1000kg warhead.
—Anthony H. Cordesman, "Iran and Nuclear Weapons," Center for Strategic and International Studies, 7 February 2000, p. 35.

1985
The British secret intelligence service, MI6, helps a prominent London arms dealer and Tory party donor to supply more than 350 million pounds worth of Chinese Silkworm anti-ship missiles to Iran. Details of the secret missile deal, codenamed "the October Contract," are disclosed in legal documents to be filed in a German court. The documents, seen by the Sunday Times, form the basis of a claim by Mohammed Hashemi, Iranian-born managing director of the British arms firm, Tagell, for compensation over an unpaid commission of 10 million pounds for acting as middleman in the deal. MI6 first learns about the Silkworm deal in 1985. It dispatched an undercover female agent on a "business trip" to China. She posed as a secretary to Hashemi, who visited China at least 10 times during the negotiations. Michael Palmer, Hashemi's lawyer, says that his client is taking legal action in the regional court in Munich against Ibcol Technical Services, a German firm that represented the Chinese government in the sale of the missiles to Iran. The Silkworm DF-5, the type sold by Tagell to Iran, is a subsonic radar-guided missile capable of hitting ships at a range of 55 miles. The Iranians installed the Silkworms at the port of Bandar Abbas and along the Gulf coast in June 1987 in an attempt to block Western shipping transporting Iraqi oil.
—David Leppard, "MI6 In On Deal for Iranian Missiles," Sunday Times, 4 September 1994, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Diane Francis, "Ottawa Must Ensure Walker Gets His Day In Court," The Financial Post (Toronto), 22 October 1994, p. S3, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1985
Work on the Mushak-120 missile reportedly begins with assistance from China, North Korea, and others at a Chinese-built factory near Semnan.
—Raytheon, "Strategic: Mushak 120," Missile Systems of The World Raytheon, 1999, p. 456.

1985
In the summer, Iran approaches both North Korea and China looking for ballistic missiles and missile technology. It appears from the meetings in Beijing that China has agreed to help Iran manufacture the Oghab tactical artillery rocket. Iran has reportedly fired 253 Oghab rockets at military and civilian targets inside Iraq during the war.
—"Iran," Jane's Intelligence Review, 1 December 1992, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1985
Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani signs a $500 million deal with North Korea to receive North Korean missiles based on Soviet Scud designs.
—Michael Dobbs, "A Story of Iran's Quest for Power: A Scientist Details The Role of Russia," Washington Post, 13 January 2002, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1985
Chinese missile deals with Iran include a 1985 sale of production capability for the Oghab.
—"Bombs From Beijing: A Report on China's Nuclear and Missile Exports," Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, May 1991.

1985
Iran agrees to finance the North Korean missile program in exchange for technology transfer and missiles.
—"The Iranian Connection," Jane's Intelligence Review, 1 May 1989, p. 206, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1985
Hashemi-Rafsanjani, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, leads a delegation to Libya and Syria to ask for more Scud-B missiles and a week later to China and North Korea to establish military cooperation. China agrees to deliver HY-2 Silkworm coastal defense missiles in 1986 and to help build a missile assembly site. China also agrees to keep delivering HN-5A and HQ-2 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), to engage in technology transfers, and to help Iran in its efforts to make surface-to-surface missiles and artillery rockets. The North Koreans agree to give Iran HN-5A SAMs, and to help in building an assembly site for them. They also offer aid to build production factories for the HN-5A and the HQ-2, to engage in technology transfers for Iran's missile program, and to assist in the building of an assembly site for the missile that is the same as the North Korean Scud-Mod. B. North Korea will also have military advisors working with Iran's military and its defense industries. After visiting North Korea, Iran begins its own Scud missile program. The intention is to make an assembly site that is under the auspices of the Defense Industries Organization (DIO) for the North Korean Scud-Mod. B after the full development of the missile. It seems that the long-term plan is for Iran to be able to make the missile itself.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," The International Missile Bazaar: The New Supplier's Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., pp. 53-55.

1985
Hashemi-Rafsanjani, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, says that it is Iran's goal to continue acquiring ballistic missiles and to possess the ability of making own missiles.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," The International Missile Bazaar: The New Supplier's Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., p. 64.

1985-1986
The Reagan administration covertly sells more than $30 million worth of missiles to Iran.
—Harold Hongju Koh, The National Security Constitution Sharing Power after The Iran-Contra Affair (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1990), p. 50.

1985-88
North Korea receives delivery of approximately 240 Scud-B missiles that were ordered from the USSR in 1984. About 100 are re-sold to Iran.
—SIPRI, SIPRI Yearbook 1989: World Armaments and Disarmament (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989), p. 256.

January 1985
Libya and Syria provide additional Scud-Bs to Iran. Syria also sends its missile technicians to Sardasht to train the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps elements in fueling and operating Scud-Bs.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction The Case of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 20.

January-February 1985
Two Scud-B transporter-erector launchers (TELs) and about 20 missiles are brought to Iran as part of its previous 1984 agreement with Libya.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," The International Missile Bazaar: The New Supplier's Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., p. 52.

18 February 1985
Five men—Moises Broder, Eduardo Ojeda, Carlos Ribeiro, Alfonso Bonacho, and Jackie Singer, all Portuguese citizens--are indicted in Los Angeles on federal charges of conspiring to smuggle Army/Raytheon Hawk anti-aircraft missile system spare parts to Iran.
—"Missile Smuggling Charge," Aviation Week & Space Technology, 18 February 1985, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

12 March 1985
Iran launches its first missile against Iraq. The Scud missile is fired at the city of Kirkuk at 2:40 a.m. Iraq claims that "time bombs planted by enemy agents" caused the explosion.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," The International Missile Bazaar: The New Supplier's Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., p. 52; W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

14 March 1985
Iran's Khatam al-Anbya missile unit launches one Scud missile at Baghdad at 3:30 a.m. Iraq says that Iranian infiltrators set off a bomb, causing the explosions. The Scud has a 1000-pound payload and a range of more than 185km.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]; Dilip Hiro, The Longest War: The Iran-Iraq Military Conflict (New York: Routledge, 1991), p. 135.

16 March 1985
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad at 6:42 a.m. local time. Iraq says a car bomb caused the explosion.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

18 March 1985
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad at 12:00 noon.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

19 March 1985
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad at 5:27 a.m. The attack kills 11 people.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

25 March 1985
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad around 4:30 a.m. The attack kills 76 people.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

25 March 1985
The British newspaper, the Sunday Times, reports that Iran is producing long-range surface-to-surface missiles. According to the report, Iran is able to produce one missile every five days.
—"UK Sunday Times Cited on Missile Production," Tehran International Service, 26 March 1985; in FBIS, 26 March 1985, p. 14.

27 March 1985
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad at 1:21 p.m.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

31 March 1985
Iran fires two Scud missiles at Baghdad at 1:59 a.m. Iraq acknowledges only one explosion.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

1 April 1985
Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qaddhafi supplies Scud missiles to Iran for use in the Iran-Iraq War. A correspondent of opposition news radio Nejat-e Iran, which is broadcast from Iraq, reports that spare parts for the Scud missiles are supplied by a British arms smuggler. The British Foreign Office denies any involvement of British experts in the assembly and use of the Scud missiles.
—"Clandestine: Libya Supplying Missiles to Iran," Radio Nejat-e Iran, 1 April 1985; in FBIS, 1 April 1985, p. 11.

5 April 1985
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad at 2:23 p.m.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

12 April 1985
Iran's Majlis Speaker Hojjat al-Islam Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani says that Iran's missile industry has developed a new missile that can be used "in the next few days." He says that the new missiles are different from missiles previously used against Iraq. The new missile is reported to be very precise and can be launched at the touch of a button. Prior to the announcement, Iran launched nine missiles against Baghdad causing damage and casualties.
—"Hashemi-Rafsanjani on New Missile Development," IRNA, 12 April 1985; in FBIS, 12 April 1985, p. 12.

25 April 1985
U.S. Department of Defense sources say that Iran has fired at least seven Soviet-made SS-1 [Scud-B] missiles at Iraq. Officials say that the acquisition of Scud missiles by Iran is a recent development and that Libya is the most likely supplier. An official also commented on Iran's announcement of a missile production capability, saying, "They may have assembled parts, but they're not making the parts."
—Norman Black, "Iran Missile Attacks Surprised Pentagon; But Missile Supply Short," Associated Press, 25 April 1985, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

28 May 1985
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad at 4:00 a.m.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

1 June 1985
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad around 11:00 p.m.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

4 June 1985
Colonel Seddiq, commander of Iran's Air Force, says that the Air Force has made considerable technical advances in the air defense missile system. Iranian air defense weapons consist of fighter-bombers equipped with air-to-air missiles, a ground-to-air missile system, and anti-aircraft guns.
—"Air Force Commander on Air Defense Missile System," Tehran Domestic Service, 4 June 1985; in FBIS, 5 June 1985, p. 11.

6 June 1985
French officials report that they have received an Iranian request to sell a set of Crotale anti-aircraft missiles.
—"Kuwait Paper: Iran Seeks to Buy French Missiles," Al-Qabas, 6 June 1985, p. 1; in FBIS, 11 June 1985, p. 15.

10 June 1985
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad at 6:00 p.m. Iraq reports a missile impacted at 6:45. [Note: Iran's time zone is 30 minutes ahead of Iraq's.]
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

15 June 1985
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad at 5:00 a.m. Iraq says a missile hit at 5:45 a.m. [Note: Iran's time zone is 30 minutes ahead of Iraq's.]
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

1 July 1985
Iran and China sign a $1.5 billion arms-for-oil agreement. The first consignment, which includes surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), reaches Shahbaher port in June on the vessel Iran Keyfuri.
—"Nejat-e Iran Reports Iran-PRC Arms Deal," Radio Nejat-e Iran, 1 July 1985; in FBIS, 2 July 1985, p. 12.

7 August 1985
Lali Abd al-Salam al-Triki, Libya's foreign minister, denies that the Libyan government is selling arms to Iran.
—"Libyan Foreign Minister Denies Arms Sales to Iran," IRNA, 7 August 1985.

August 1985
Israel sends Iran 508 TOW missiles.
—United States National Security Council, "U.S./Iranian Contacts and the American Hostages," Top Secret Chronology, 18 November 1986, in Digital National Security Archive <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.

25 September 1985
The Japanese news agency Kyodo reports that, "Iran has purchased 130 ground-to-ground and ground-to-air missiles." According to the news agency, the types of missiles are not known, but are Soviet-built and purchased through a third party. Seventy of the missiles are surface-to-surface and 60 are surface-to-air missiles.
—"KYODO Reports Purchase of Soviet-Built Missiles," IRNA, 25 September 1985; in FBIS, 25 September 1985, p. 11.

29 September 1985
Iran purchases 40 upgraded versions of the Soviet Scud surface-to-surface missiles from China and receives the first 15 at the time of the report.
—"UK Newspaper on Purchase of PRC Missiles Cited," IRNA, 29 September 1985; in FBIS 30 September 1985, p. 11.

29 September 1985
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Mohsen Rezai says that the first surface-to-air missile (SAM) site of the IRGC will become operational soon. Rezai says that the surface-to-surface missile unit of the IRGC was already used in retaliatory operations against Iraq. He adds that the IRGC makes sophisticated anti-tank missiles in 1984.
—"IRGC Chief: SAM Site to Become Operational 'Soon'," IRNA, 29 September 1985; in FBIS, 30 September 1985, p. 11.

October 1985
North Korea denies reports from Tehran that the USSR has begun shipping about 60 SAMs to Iran via North Korea and Syria.
—"N. Korea Denies Tehran Reports," Jane's Defence Weekly, 19 October 1985, p. 857.

23 October 1985
Highly reliable sources report that talks on the sale of Chinese surface-to-surface missiles to Iran are "progressing rapidly." Negotiations are also held in June and July between China and Iran to discuss the sale of older-generation Scud 1-A and 1-B missiles.
—Pierre-Antoine Donnet, "AFP: Iran, PRC Negotiating Missile Sales in Beijing," Agence France Presse, 23 October 1985; in FBIS, 23 October 1985, p. 15.

25 November 1985
Eighteen Hawk anti-aircraft missiles are sent from Israel to Iran aboard a plane owned by a CIA front company. [Note: The missiles are later returned to Israel. See entry for February 1986.]
—James Schwartz, "An Iran-Contra Chronology," Washington Post, 23 February 1990, p. A10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

Mid-1980s
Iran begins acquiring ballistic missiles in the mid-1980s, when Libya supplies approximately 30 Soviet-made Scud-C missiles with a range of 300km.
—W. Seth Carus, "Iran and Weapons of Mass Destruction," 3 July 2000, <http://www.ajc.org/pre/IranWeapons.htm>.

1980s
Iran receives 130 HQ-2 surface-to-air missiles from China during the 1980s.
—Bates Gill, "Chinese Arms Exports to Iran," MERIA Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, May 1998, <http://www.biu.ac.il/Besa/meria/journal/1998/issue2/jv2n2a7.html>.

1986
Chinese missile deals with Iran include a 1986 sale of Silkworm anti-ship missiles.
—"Bombs From Beijing: A Report on China's Nuclear and Missile Exports," Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, May 1991.

1986
Assistant Secretary of State Richard W. Murphy, the Reagan administration's senior Middle East specialist, said that Iran agrees to spend $700 million to purchase the Silkworm missile system for possible use in blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Chinese officials, in public and private, are said to have denied that China is supplying arms to Iran.
—Don Oberdorfer, "US Policy in Gulf Complicates Relations with Soviets, Chinese; Cooperation Sought at United Nations to Halt Flow of Arms to Iran," Washington Post, 31 May 1987, p. A30, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1986
The UK company Plessey receives its government's permission to sell six static air defense systems to Iran, which will supposedly be used to "help defend Iran's Soviet and Afghan borders."
—Richard Johns, "Arms Embargo Which Cannot Withstand The Profit Motive," Financial Times (London), 13 November 1987, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1986
The U.S. supply of weapons includes 2,000 TOW missiles and 235 Hawk air-defense missiles. The Iranians deny having received Hawk missiles.
—Shahram Chubin and Charles Tripp, Iran and Iraq at War (Boulder: Westview Press, 1991), p. 211.

1986
Iran launches 19 surface-to-surface missiles at Iraq; 8 of the missiles are Scuds.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

1986
The Soviet Union delivers a shipment of $18 million worth of advanced weapons to Iran. Jean-Louis Gantzer, a French arms dealer involved in the transaction, claims to act as broker for a German arms merchant. Gantzer, who has been involved in arms sales to Iran since 1982, says that the agreement of prices and terms of delivery begins with a 17 March 1986 dated telex message to the Iranian Deputy Minister of Defense. The telex includes a catalog of 35 items with suggested prices, including SAM-7 missiles priced at $48,780 each and launchers at $12,000. According to Gantzer's telex, the arms are to be delivered by a company called Praetor Trading Ltd., a Channel Islands dummy firm controlled by Peter Mulack, a West German arms dealer living in Florida.
—John Tagliabue, "How $18 million got Soviet weapons to Iran," New York Times, 27 May 1987, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1986
Gantzer boards Iran Air flight 716 from Frankfurt to Tehran. On 1 August 1986, the contract for the Soviet-supplied arms is signed. According to the terms of the contract, Iran agrees to buy 400 missiles and 100 launchers, as well as Soviet anti-tank grenades and artillery ammunition. To facilitate the arms transfer, the North Korean Embassy in Vienna issues an "end user certificate." The document states that the weapons are destined for Pyongyang, North Korea. In addition, special instructions accompanying the contract stipulate that "all documents' should describe the weapons as "industrial equipment and spare parts per contract No. CH 86902 and Ref. 1265." DC-9s are then chartered in Israel and flown to Poland, where the planes are loaded with 331 cases—205 with surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and launchers, and 126 with other weapons. The aircraft then fly, in December 1986, to Nicosia, Cyprus, with waybills declaring that the cargoes are destined for North Korea. From Cyprus, the planes fly to the Iranian border, where they are met by Iranian planes and escorted to the border.
—John Tagliabue, "How $18 million got Soviet weapons to Iran," New York Times, 27 May 1987, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1986
In the summer Iran receives the first of several HY-2 Silkworm anti-ship missile batteries from China. [Note: According to German and English sources the deal, known as the October Contract, was set in 1985. See abstracts from 1985.]
—Joseph S. Bermudez, "North Korea's HY-2 Silkworm programme," Jane's Intelligence Review, 1 May 1989, p. 203, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; Alan George, "Iran Uses Styx Technology in Cruise Missile Development," Flight International, 16 November 1994, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1986
There are rumors that Stinger missiles are delivered to Iran by the United States during Robert McFarlane's trip to Iran on 28 May 1986.
—Alex Brummer, "Stinger missiles 'snatched from Afghan rebels'," Guardian (London), 15 October 1987, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1986
Former Israeli intelligence agent Ari Ben Menashe says that missiles and other weapons are shipped through Australia's Fremantle Port as part of the Iran-Contra deal.
—Layla Tucak and Natalie O'Brien, "Iran-Contra secrets all 'old news'," Weekend Australian, 3 November 2001, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1986
With the help of imported material and technology from China, Iran is able to begin producing the Oghab rocket and succeeds in making it operational by the end of 1986. The Oghab is a 230mm unguided artillery rocket that has a 45km range and carries a 70kg payload. Though the Oghab is useful to the Iranians against Iraqi cities close to its borders, some believe that the Oghab is a failure because it does not meet Iran's hopes of making a missile close to the FROG-7A that has a 70km range and a 450kg payload.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," The International Missile Bazaar: The New Supplier's Network. (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., pp. 49-50.

1986
Syria reportedly sells a small number of Scud-B missiles to Iran for $15 million.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," The International Missile Bazaar: The New Suppliers Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., p. 53.

1986-1987
An agreement to assemble the Chinese made F-7M fighters shows that China supplies Iran with a Chinese version of French air-to-air missiles. The Chinese also sell 2,500 PL2 and Pl2A missiles, which are believed to be similar to the U.S.-made Sidewinder.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction The Case of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 25.

Early 1986
Iran purchases $1.2 billion worth of weapons through Syria, including Scud-Bs.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction The Case of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 20.

January 1986
U.S. President Reagan gives his approval for the sale of weapons to Iran in exchange for releasing the hostages.
—U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, "Background and Chronology of Special Project," Secret Chronology, 18 November 1986, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com/>.

February 1986
Iran seizes the HY-2 Silkworm [Sea Eagle] missiles from Iraq when Iran captures the Faw Peninsula.
—John M. Broder, "Silkworm Missile is Chinese Copy of 28-Year-Old Soviet Styx," Los Angeles Times, 17 October 1987, p. 10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

February 1986
Under an arrangement led by the United States, Iran returns the 18 basic Hawk missiles to Israel it had received in late November 1985. [Note: See entry for 25 November 1985.]
—United States National Security Council, "U.S./Iranian Contacts and the American Hostages," Top Secret Chronology, 18 November 1986, in Digital National Security Archive <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com/>.

11 February 1986
Iranian money is deposited in a Central Intelligence Agency bank account in Geneva, to be used for the purchase of TOW missiles. [Note: See entry for 17 February 1986.]
—United States National Security Council, "U.S./Iranian Contacts and the American Hostages," Top Secret Chronology, 18 November 1986, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com/>.

17 February 1986
First shipment of 500 TOW anti-tank missiles from U.S. stocks goes to Iran via Israel as part of the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages deal.
—James Schwartz, "An Iran-Contra Chronology," Washington Post, 23 February 1990, p. A10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

19-21 February 1986
Members of the U.S. National Security Council and Central Intelligence Agency inform Israeli and Iranian officials that the United Statesd will sell 1,000 TOW missiles to Iran. Delivery of the missiles was completed on 21 February.
—United States National Security Council, "U.S./Iranian Contacts and the American Hostages," Top Secret Chronology, 18 November 1986, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com/>.

March 1986
Iran obtains arms from three Soviet allies: North Korea, Syria, and Libya. A European ambassador interviewed recently in Tripoli confirms reports that Libya is supplying Iran with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles with the knowledge of Soviet officials.
—Claude Van England, "Iran scores gains in war with Iraq: But observers puzzled why Iran hasn't pressed its advantage," Christian Science Monitor, 13 March 1986, p. 9, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

26 March 1986
Charles St. Claire, a Granada Hills arms dealer who is convicted of promoting a scheme to ship stolen U.S. Army anti-tank missiles to Iran, is sentenced to 18 months in prison and a $15,000 fine by a federal court judge in Orlando, Florida. St. Claire was convicted in December 1985 with Paul Cutter, who is described as the mastermind. Cutter receives a 5-year prison term in January. Four other defendants are acquitted.
—"Dealer Gets 18 Months in Iran Arms Scheme," Los Angeles Times, 26 March 1986, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

29 March 1986
General Moyed, acting through a deputy, responds on 29 March and complains that the prices are "very expensive." Nevertheless, he requests specifications for five items on the list, including the SAM-7 missiles. Gantzer then directs General Moyed to officials from Perenosny Zenitiny Raketny Kompleks, a Soviet-controlled installation outside of Warsaw, for more information. Meanwhile, officials of a Swiss insurance company, C. Wuppesahl A. G. of Basel, meet with Iranian representatives and Soviet officials to inspect the weapons in Warsaw. The insurance inspectors then issue a certificate of inspection, confirming the quantity and quality of the goods. Gantzer, acting for Praetor Tradigin, posts a $100,000 performance bond through the London branch of Commerzbank A. G. Concurrently, the Union Bank of Switzerland issues a letter of credit on behalf of the Iranians for the sum of $18,640,000, the amount Tehran agreed to pay for the arms.
—John Tagliabue, "How $18 million got Soviet weapons to Iran," New York Times, 27 May 1987, p. A1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

April 1986
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps announces that it has made considerable progress in missile, aircraft, chemical, and nuclear fields.
—Paula A. DeSutter, Denial and Jeopardy Deterring Iranian Use of NBC Weapons (Washington, DC: National Defense University Press, 1997), p. 23.

22 April 1986
Retired Israeli General Avraham Bar-Am and three others are arrested in Bermuda on charges of illegally selling $2 billion worth of U.S.-made weapons to Iran in contravention of sanctions. The official Islamic Republic News Agency says the charges are a "hasty scenario by ruling groups in America" intended to cover up the United States' failure to remove Al Qaddhafi from power. Charges are filed today in New York against 17 people in connection with five reported conspiracies to smuggle weapons to Iran, including missiles. An Israeli defense official says that Bar-Am is licensed to deal in weapons, but in a legal manner.
—"Iran Denies Accusation of Arms Smuggling," New York Times, 24 April 1986, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

30 April 1986
Israeli retired General Ahraham Bar-Am and his fellow smugglers offer Iran 15,750 TOW missiles, 13 F-5 jet fighters, 33 F-4 jet fighters, 46 Skyhawk fighter-bombers, 5 C-130 transport planes, 430 Sparrow missiles, 200 Aim missiles, 200 Maverick missiles, 600 Chaparral missiles, and 200 Python air-to-air missiles. Professional arms dealers comment that even this partial list is "preposterous" and indicate that the Bar-Am weapons sale to Iran is likely intended to fraud the Iranian government out of $2 billion. [Note: See 22 April 1986 entry.]
—Warren Richey, "Hungry for US-made arms, Iran sometimes burned by swindlers," Christian Science Monitor, 30 April 1986, p. 5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

15 May 1986
Two Israelis are indicted in New York on charges of conspiring to sell U.S.-made missiles to Iran or to Iraq. The Israeli government asserts that it has no connection with Zeev Reiss, a reserve Army lieutenant colonel, and Gil Silva. Reiss is accused of attempting to ship 3,819 U.S.-made, wire-guided TOW anti-tank missiles. Reiss and Silva approached two prospective arms buyers, who turned out to be undercover U.S. customs agents, asking for a $200,000 advance for the weapon sale.
—William Claiborne, "US Holds 2 Israelis on Arms Charge; American-Made Missiles Allegedly Destined for Persian Gulf," Washington Post, 16 May 1986, p. A26, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

23-24 May 1986
A shipment of 508 TOW anti-tank missiles and 240 types of Hawk missile spare parts is made to Israel as part of the arms-for-hostages deal for Iran.
—James Schwartz, "An Iran-Contra Chronology," Washington Post, 23 February 1990, p. A10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

29 May 1986
A retired Israeli general and four other men appear before a special magistrate on charges that they participated in an illegal scheme to smuggle $2.5 billion [Referred to as 2.0 billion] in U.S.-made warplanes, missiles, and other weapons to Iran. The scheme, which involved 17 defendants and five weapons-smuggling conspiracies, included smugglers and shipping agents from Israel, West Germany, France, Britain, Greece, and the United States. Cyrus Hashemi, a wealthy Iranian banker who appears on the U.S. Customs Services' "10 Most Wanted" list of international arms smugglers, posed as the buyer for Iran in what is called the U.S. Customs Service' largest sting operation to date. The sting operation begins in 1985, when Hashemi, under indictment in New York on a 1984 charge of smuggling weapons to Iran during the U.S. hostage crisis, approaches U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani to make a deal. Hashemi says that he is involved in the case after being "approached by a representative of persons interested in selling arms to Iran," who was later identified as Samuel Evans, an American lawyer based in London. Israeli citizen Eisenberg and his son Guri Eisenberg produce a list for Hashemi of $800 million in weapons, including jet fighters and a large collection of missiles, which they claim can be produced from the Israeli Defense Ministry. The five defendants are arrested on 22 April when they arrive in New York to complete their arms transaction. A second deal worth $343 million in weapons was set up by retired Israeli Brig. General Avraham Bar-Am and his partner William Northrop, an American based in Tel Aviv. U.S. federal law enforcement sources say the Israelis involved in the case had refused to come to New York because of warnings from "superiors" that they would be arrested; instead, the U.S. Customs agents persuaded the arms dealers to meet in Bermuda, where an agreement was arranged for the men to be declared "undesirables" by Bermudan authorities and either arrested as illegal aliens or sent back to the United States. Bar-Am insists that he was operating with the knowledge of the Israeli government and threatens to cooperate with U.S. authorities unless the Israeli government intercedes on his behalf. The Israeli government denies knowledge of Bar-Am or the Eisenbergs and insists that it is a scheme to con Iran out of money.
—Mary Thornton, "5 Appear in NY Court On Arms-Ring Charges," Washington Post, 30 May 1986, p. A32, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

30 May 1986
A visit of a high-level Iranian delegation to France sparks speculation that Iran and France may be moving toward a normalization of relations. France has agreed to repay a $1 billion loan made during the Shah of Iran's government in exchange for the release of French hostages. French officials deny, however, having issued licenses to export arms to Iran. But a French newspaper reports that several shipments of French-made shells are sold to the Iranian army and reports in Arab papers in the region state that Iran has enhanced its firing power by equipping them with French-made AS-12 missiles.
—Claude van England, "Iran works to repair ties with Soviets and French," Christian Science Monitor, 30 May 1986, p. 9, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

7 June 1986
China, despite repeated denials, is selling weapons in large quantities to Iran as well as to Iraq. The International Institute of Strategic Studies in London lists China as a primary supplier to Iran, providing the Iranians with jets, tanks, artillery, and surface-to-air missiles under an agreement that it says was concluded in March 1985. The report also lists Israel, North Korea, Eastern Europe, Argentina, and Switzerland as countries that have supplied Iran with weapons.
—Daniel Southerland, "China Selling More Arms to Iran, Study Shows: Institute Cites $1.6 Billion in Recent Purchases, Says Iraq also a Client," Washington Post, 7 June 1986, p. A16, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

26 June 1986
Iran launches two Scud missiles at oil facilities 35km to the northwest of Kirkuk, Iraq at 11:00 p.m.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

Summer 1986
A court document is filed that may help in determining what role, if any, the Israeli spy Johnathan Jay Pollard played in the 1985 efforts to ship U.S. or other Western arms to Iran via Israel. A single sentence contained in this document written by federal prosecutors reads, "Also found in the suitcase was a letter from Mr. Pollard to 'Yossi' [Joseph 'Yossi' Yagur] concerning the missile systems designed or manufactured by various non-communist countries, which might be available for sale to Iran, including the system known as CACTUS." Joseph Yagur was the science counselor at the Israeli consulate in New York. According to court documents, he made regular cash payments to Pollard in 1985 in exchange for classified U.S. government documents.
—Warren Richey, "Prosecutors ask: Did Pollard help Israel ship arms to Iran?" Christian Science Monitor, 6 March 1987, p. 12, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

3 August 1986
Remaining U.S.-supplied Hawk missile spare parts are shipped to Iran.
—James Schwartz, "An Iran-Contra Chronology," Washington Post, 23 February 1990, p. A10, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

12 August 1986
Iran launches one Scud missile at Baghdad shortly before 2:00 a.m.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

29 August 1986
Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, an official with the National Security Council, is informed that "Iran had $76 million in a Belgian bank to be used in the purchase of 4,000 TOW missiles." The missiles ordinarily cost $7,000 each, are normally sold for $12,000, but would be sold to Iran for $19,000 each. The $28 million profit on the deal would go to middlemen. North is also informed that "the Belgian bank was amenable to a deal involving a 'sting,' i.e., the sale of the missiles would go through but empty crates rather than the missiles would actually be delivered...if the U.S. government wanted this."
—David Laux, "My Contacts with David Duncan," Memorandum for Oliver L. North, U.S. National Security Council, 29 August 1986, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com/>.

12 September 1986
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps' Air Force fires one Scud missile at Baghdad at 12:45 a.m. The attack kills 102 people.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

3 October 1986
Pakistani businessman Arif Durrani is arrested on charges of selling Hawk missile parts to Iran. Durrani operates an aircraft parts business in California.
— "Man Convicted in Missile Parts Sale to Iran Despite Claimed NSC Role," Los Angeles Times, 3 April 1987, p. 30, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

26-29 October 1986
Members of the U.S. National Security Council meet with Iranian officials in Frankfurt, Germany. The United States agrees to provide an additional 500 TOW missiles for the release of two hostages. The missiles are delivered on 29 October.
—U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, "Background and Chronology of Special Project," Secret Chronology, 18 November 1986, in Digital National Security Archive <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com/>.

16 October 1986
Iran fires one Scud missile at Baghdad around 10:50 p.m. The attack kills 70 people.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

14 November 1986
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Air Force launches one Scud missile at Baghdad at 2:30 a.m. The attack kills 70 people.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

18 November 1986
A top secret National Security Council chronology of the Iran-Contra affair indicates that the U.S. government "acted within the limits of established policy and in compliance with all U.S. law" in providing Iran with 2,008 TOW missiles and 235 Hawk missile spare parts.
—United States National Security Council, "U.S./Iranian Contacts and the American Hostages," Top Secret Chronology, 18 November 1986, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com/>.

21 November 1986
The U.S. Department of Defense informs the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence that Iran had requested 4,509 TOW missiles, but only 2,008 had been delivered. The remaining 2,501 Hawks are being stored at an army installation. Iran had also requested 234 Hawk missile spare parts, but only 218 items were delivered. [Note: This conflicts earlier reports that 240 Hawk spare parts were delivered. See entry for 23-24 May 1986.]
—Robert T. Howard, "Handwritten Note Forwarding Packet of Materials relating to Arms Shipments to Iran," Non-Classified Memorandum for the Assistant Secretary of Defense, 21 November 1986, in Digital National Security Archive <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com/>.

22 November 1986
Iran launches one Scud missile at Baghdad around 6:30 p.m., killing 28 people.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

26 November 1986
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Air Force launches one Scud missile at Baghdad shortly after 3:00 a.m. The attack kills 103 people.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

7 December 1986
Iran's ground forces fire three short range Oqab missiles at Basra, Iraq, killing 37 people.
——Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," The International Missile Bazaar: The New Suppliers Network. (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., p. 50; W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

7 December 1986
The Iranian parliament restructures all of North Korea's $170 million oil purchase debt to Iran. The debt will be paid back over the next five years, beginning retroactively from January 1985. During this period, Iran will deduct 70% of the cost of North Korean merchandise purchased from the debt, paying only the remaining 30% in cash.
—IRNA (Tehran), 7 December 1986, in "Majlis Reschedules 'Entirety' of DPRK Debt," FBIS-NES, 10 December 1986, p. 15.

8 December 1986
Iran's Ground Forces fire three Oqab (Eagle) missiles at Basra, Iraq, killing 51 people.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

23 December 1986
Iran fires three Oqab (Eagle) missiles at Basra, Iraq.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]

25 December 1986
Iran fires two shore-to-sea missiles at a naval base near Umm Qasr and the Bakr oil terminal.
—W. Seth Carus, "Ballistic Missiles Fired in the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-1988," unpublished document, 9 May 1988 [expected to be published in 2002 in Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., Steven Zologa, and Stephen Sewell, Scud: Weapon of Terror (Darlington, VA: Darlington Press).]