4 January 2006
The British Guardian claims that a report from 1 July 2005 has surfaced alleging that Iran has made attempts to acquire parts and expertise for their missile program. The document is a compilation of French, German, British, and Belgian intelligence. It details Iran's network of front companies, academic institutions, official bodies, and middlemen that seek parts, knowledge, and equipment from Western Europe and the former Soviet Union for their missile program. In addition, the report describes Iranian attempts to develop a ballistic missile that would be able to carry a warhead long distances from its borders. The report also alleges that Iran would like to pursue a space program, but is instead focusing on improving the Shahab-3 missile [Note: This is an Iranian medium-range ballistic missile designed to be launched from a fixed or mobile launcher at a fixed target]. Iran is supposedly constructing wind tunnels, working on navigation technology, and purchasing metering and calibration technology, motion simulators, and X-rays to aid in the development of the next missile in the Shahab series, which is intended to have an extended range that could cover Europe.
--Ian Cobain and Ian Traynor, "Secret Services Say Iran Is Trying to Assemble a Nuclear Missile," Guardian, 4 January 2006.
16 February 2006
Western intelligence sources reveal Iran has been very active with missile tests this year. Iran is believed to have successfully completed four successful missile test launches this year, including one of Shahab-3 and Shahab-4 missiles with ranges of 1,300 kilometers and 2,200 kilometers respectively.
--"Iran escalates missile testing, sources say," Global Security Newswire, 16 February 2006; "Iran reportedly tests Shahab 4 missile," Global Security Newswire, 7 February 2006. "Western intelligence services reportedly confirm Iran test of new Shahab-4 Missile," FBIS feature, 6 February 2006, FBIS document FEA20060206019143.
7 March 2006
Intelligence reports allege a covert Iranian program known as "Project 111" that includes plans to arm Shahab-3 missiles with nuclear warheads. Project 111 is believed to be a nuclear research effort that includes work on missile development. According to U.S. intelligence sources, Project 111 is believed to be the successor of Project 110, the military arm of Iran's nuclear program.
--Dafna Linzer, "Strong leads and dead ends in Nuclear case against Iran," Washington Post, 8 February 2006; "Iran reportedly developing nuclear-capable missile," Global Security Newswire, 7 March 2006.
2 April 2006
Iran tests an underwater missile named the Hoot (whale in Farsi) in the Persian Gulf. The Iranians claim that the missile is capable of speeds of 225-233 mph, which is three to four times faster than a typical torpedo, and is intended to attack submarines and warships. This is the same speed as the VA-111 Shkval [Note: This is a Russian anti-ship missile that carries a conventional warhead], which is currently the fastest underwater missile. Ruslan Pukhov of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies in Moscow states that this kind of technological achievement is beyond Iranian capabilities. Some United States officials claim that Russia has exported missile technology to Iran in the past and could have sold them information on the Shkval. However, experts in Russia state that the Iranians did not get the missile technology from Russia. Pukhov states that it is more likely that the Iranians received the technology from Kyrgyzstan. Also, China allegedly imported 40 Shkval-E missiles. [Note: The Shkval-E carries a conventional weapon and was created by Russia specifically for export.]
--Robert Tait, "Iran Fires Naval Missile Into Nuclear Debate," Guardian, 3 April 2006; "Iran Tests 'Super Fast' Torpedo,' BBC, 3 April 2006; Associated Press, "Pro-Kremlin Russian Lawmaker: Iran Arms Tests 'Counterproductive'," Haaretz, 4 April 2006; Bill Gertz, "Pentagon Calls Iran Missile Claim an Exaggeration, The Washington Times, 4 April 2006; "Do Iran's Weapons Come From Russia?" Associated Press, 4 April 2006; "VA-111 Shkval," Military Periscope, 1 December 2001; "Iranskaya Supertorpeda: Eksperty v Rossii Somnevayutsya," BBC Russian Service, 4 April 2006.
7 April 2006
The London Telegraph alleges that Iran has succeeded in adapting the nosecone of the Shahab-3 missile to deliver a nuclear weapon. The 800 mile range of the Shahab-3 allows it to target many countries in the Middle East, including Israel. The Iranians are also attempting to modify the missile to extend the range. It is alleged that this modified Shahab-3 could carry the Pakistani version of a nuclear weapon and it is rumored that Iran possesses this design.
--Con Coughlin, "Iran Has Missiles to Carry Nuclear Warheads," Telegraph, 7 April 2006.
19 April 2006
Russia intends to continue supplying Iran with 29 Tor M1 missiles [Note: These are short-range, mobile and ship-launched, anti-aircraft missiles manufactured by Russia] according to the contract the two countries had previously concluded in late 2005. The contract is estimated to be worth $700 million. Russia has been censured by the United States, which, according to U.S. Undersecretary of State R. Nicholas Burns, feels that "this is not the time for business as usual with the Iranian government." The Russian Chief of General Staff Yuri Baluyevsky states that these systems can only defend Iranian airspace and that Russia will not participate in an armed conflict in Iran.
--"Russia Will Deliver Air Defense Systems to Iran- Top General," Ria-Novosti, 19 April 2006; "Missile Exports to Iran Alarm U.S.," BBC, 21 April 2006.
27 April 2006
Iran purchases surface-to-surface missiles from North Korea with a range of 2,500 kilometers. The missiles are known in the West as BM-25s and are single stage liquid fueled. Able to carry a nuclear payload, the missiles were originally developed in the former Soviet Union and were later sold to North Korea. The new purchase allegedly gives Iran a longer reach than the Iranian made Shahab-4, which has a range of 2,000 kilometers.
-- Ze'ev Schiff, "Iran buys surface-to-surface missiles capable of hitting Europe," Haaretz, 27 April 2006; Aron Heller, "Iran gets first North Korean-made missiles," Associated Press, 27 April 2006; "Iran has missiles that put Europe in range: report," Reuters, 27 April 2006.
23 May 2006
Iran conducts a test launch of its Shahab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missile. However, the missile testing did not extend the 2,000 kilometer (1,200 mile) maximum range of the Shahab-3.
-- "Iran carries out missile test-Israeli source," Reuters, 23 May 2006; Josh Brannon, "Iran tests Shahab-3 Missile Capable of Striking Israel," The Jerusalem Post, 24 May 2006.
13 June 2006
The U.S. Department of Treasury sanctions four Chinese companies and one U.S. company pursuant to Executive order 13382, for having supplied Iran's military and Iranian proliferators with missile-related and dual-use components. Sanctions under Executive Order 13382, which are administered by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), prohibit all transactions between the designees and any U.S. person and freeze any assets the designees may have under U.S. jurisdiction. The Chinese companies sanctioned include Beijing Alite Technologies Company, Ltd. (ALCO), LIMMT Economic and Trade Company, Ltd., China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), and China National Precision Machinery Import/Export Corporation (CPMIEC). The U.S. company sanctioned is the representative office of CGWIC, G.W. Aerospace, Inc., which is located in Torrance, California. The aforementioned companies are said to have provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), the Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group (SBIG) and/or the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG). The AIO, a subsidiary of the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Logistics, is the overall manager and coordinator of Iran's missile program, overseeing all of Iran's missile industries. The SBIG and SHIG are affiliates of the AIO.
--"Treasury Designates U.S. and Chinese Companies Supporting Iranian Missile Proliferation," U.S. Department of Treasury-Press Release, 13 June 2006.
1 July 2006
Reports emerge that indicate Iran may be pursuing the purchase of Russian S-300P air defense systems via Belarus while using Austria as a smuggling hub for procuring dual use missile technology. On a separate but connected note, Step, A.S., an Istanbul trading firm, is alleged to have served as the hub of a smuggling network that procured internationally controlled dual-use equipment for Iran's nuclear and missile programs. The dual-use equipment is alleged to include massive heat-resistant aluminum containers for nuclear materials and components for missile guidance systems, all manufactured in Western Europe and in some cases by subsidiaries of U.S. companies.
--"Belarus: Lukashenka Courts Tehran," Jane's Intelligence Digest, 14 April 2006; Christoph Budin and Christoph Matzi, "Missile Deal with Iran Discovered," Vienna Neue Kronen-Zeitung, 4 June 2006, OSC document EUP20060605085018; Nedim Sener, "Iran'a nukleer parca a.b.d'li firmadan," [U.S. Firm Sells Nuke Parts to Iran], Milliyet, 26 May 2006, OSC Document GMP20060526016005.
2 July 2006
Responding to Russian government allegations, Ukraine and Iran deny having participated in the transfer of long range cruise missiles. Earlier, Russia's Defense Minister, Sergei Ivanov alleged that Ukraine's Progress firm had supplied six Soviet Kh-55 Granat missiles (a.k.a. X-55; NATO reporting name AS-15 Kent) to China and another six missiles to Iran. [Note: The Kh-55 is a nuclear capable long range air launched cruise missile.] Touting it as the "grossest violation of the control regime over missile technologies," Defense Minister Ivanov added that the deal had been conducted via a Cyprus based front company. Ukraine denies having allegedly delivered or 'illegally exported' the Kh-55 Granat missiles to other countries. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hamid-Reza Asefi expresses his amazement at the allegations of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov about Iran's purchase of the X-55 cruise missiles from Ukraine. Denying the allegations, Asefi underlines "Iran has not illegally purchased any weapons."
-- "Russia says Ukraine sold banned missiles to Iran, China," RIA-Novosti, 30 June 2006; "Kiev denies accusations of illegal cruise missile sales," RIA-Novosti, 30 June 2006; "Iran denies cruise missile purchase from Ukraine," Islamic Republic News Agency, 2 July 2006.
3 August 2006
In a new report, the Institute for Foreign Affairs and National Security based in Seoul says North Korea has been working closely with Iran to develop its long-range ballistic missiles. Furthermore, the report points out that Pyongyang probably benefits from Iran's weapon's research, because of Tehran's arms trade with China. The report goes on to substantiate Washington's suspicion that Iran may play a role in helping North Korea sell missiles and missile technology to terrorist groups.
--Kurt Achin, "South Korean Report says North Building Missile Bases, Cooperating with Iran," VOA News, 3 August 2006; Jack Kim, "Iran working with N.Korea on missiles: Institute," Reuters, 3 August 2006.
20 August 2006
Iran tests surface-to-surface short range missile "Saegheh" during army war games. The "Saegheh" meaning "Thunderbolt" in Persian, is believed to have a range of 80-250 km (50-150 miles).
--"Iran army tests missiles in wargames," Reuters, 20 August 2006; "Iran tests short-range missile in military maneuvers," Xinhua, 20 August 2006.
27 August 2006
Iran tests new anti-ship missile "Sagheb" during wargames. The "Sagheb" meaning "piercing" is a long range, radar evading missile that can be installed and launched from a submarine.
--"Iran Test-fires 'Long-range Radar-evading' Missile: Military," Agence France-Presse, 27 July 2006; "Iran test fires long-range missile," CNN, 27 August 2007; "Iran Test Fires Saqeb Missile from Submarine," Tehran Vision, 27 August 2006, FBIS document IAP20060827950045.
3 August 2006
In a new report, the Institute for Foreign Affairs and National Security based in Seoul says North Korea has been working closely with Iran to develop its long-range ballistic missiles. Furthermore, the report points out that Pyongyang probably benefits from Iran’s weapon’s research, because of Tehran’s arms trade with China. The report goes on to substantiate Washington’s suspicion that Iran may play a role in helping North Korea sell missiles and missile technology to terrorist groups.
--Kurt Achin, “South Korean Report says North Building Missile Bases, Cooperating with Iran,” VOA News, 3 August 2006; Jack Kim, “Iran working with N.Korea on missiles: Institute,” Reuters, 3 August 2006.
