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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


July 1998 - Iran Special Weapons News

  • New Iran missile 'will have nonconventional capability' By STEVE RODAN Jerusalem Post July 31, 1998 - Iran is rapidly developing a new missile called Shihab-4 and its development could be completed within the next two to five years. The Shihab-4, based on the Soviet SS-4 missile, is entirely a product of Russian missile technology and can carry biological, chemical or nuclear warheads.
  • IRAN DEVELOPING MORE ADVANCED MISSILE IN PARALLEL TO SHIHAB-3 ISRAEL LINE - JULY 31, 1998 -- The new missile is called Shihab-4 and its development could be completed within the next two to five years.
  • Iran expected to complete Shihab-3 prototype next year The Jerusalem Post 29 July 1998 - Iran will complete its prototype of its Shihab-3 medium-range ballistic missile by next year and will start producing them by the end of the century. Last Tuesday's missile test by Iran was not of a prototype of the 1,300km-range Shihab-3, but a preliminary examination of the engine in the single-stage rocket. Shihab-3 is a purely Iranian-built and Iranian-assembled missile based grossly on the design of the North Korean No-Dung missile. It was totally redesigned by Russian experts.
  • IRANIAN MISSILE PROGRAM STILL DEPENDS ON RUSSIAN ASSISTANCE ISRAEL LINE, JULY 29, 1998 -- If Russia stops providing technological aid to the Iranian missile program, the Shihab-3 missile program will not reach its intended level of development.
  • AFTER THE IRANIAN TEST Ze'ev Schiff, "Ha'aretz", Jul 29, 1998, p. B1 -- In contrast to the initial publications which followed the first test of the Iranian Shihab-3 missile, which determined that the test had failed, American and other experts have now found that the test was successful, perhaps even very successful. The missile flew approximately two minutes to the south-east and then exploded in flight.
  • NEW THINKING ON THE IRANIAN ISSUE by Reuven Pedhatzur, Ha'aretz, July 28, 1998, p. B1. -- The test which Iran carried out last week on the Shihab-3 ballistic missile was expected. The acceleration was certainly faster than western intelligence bodies had anticipated, but how should this affect the Israel's appropriate preparations against this development, which was expected in any case?
  • Zafar greets Iranian counterpart for successfulmissile launch ASSOCIATED PRESS OF PAKISTAN (27-07-1998) Senator Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, Federal Minster for Religious Affairs has expressed his pleasure over successful launching of 'Shahab' missile by Iran.
  • Iran's Missile Test to Counter Hegemony of Others Tehran Times 26 July 1998 -- Iran's Missile Test aimed at demonstrating its determination that it was not ready to accept the hegemony of others was provingly successful.
  • It's a Defensive Weapon -- No Offense! IRAN NEWS JULY 26, 1998 -- This is not the first time that American officials have expressed concern over military technological advancement by the Islamic Republic. The surprising point, however, is that such remarks are made at a time when Washington talks about establishing a dialogue with Iran.
  • Iran Successfully Tests Medium-Range Missile Tehran Times 26 July 1998 -- Iran has successfully tested a long-range missile, Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani announced yesterday. The weapon has a range of 13,00 kilometers (800 miles) and an amount of 600 million dollars was spent to acquire this capability.
  • mohammadi-missile irna 26/07/98 -- foreign ministry spokesman mahmoud mohammadi here on sunday stressed that the iranian missile technology is solely for defensive purposes and that the capability is not meant for first strike use against others.
  • dailies laud iran's long-range missile test IRNA 26/07/98 -- two english dailies sunday editorialized on country's successful testing of its long-range missile test.
  • US claims Iran tested missile Iran Daily 25 July 1998 - The United States claimed it detected a test launch on Wednesday by Iran of a Shehab-3 missile of North Korean design with a range of up to 800 miles (1,300 km). Eric Arnett of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said Iran faced two major military threats to its security.
  • MORDECHAI SAYS IRANIAN MISSILE CANNOT REACH ISRAEL AT CURRENT STAGE ISRAEL LINE FRIDAY, JULY 24, 1998 Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai said on Thursday that to the best of his knowledge, the missile tested by Iran on Wednesday is not yet capable of reaching Israel.
  • Iran successfully test-fires medium range missile N. C. Menon The Hindustan Times 24 July 1998 - A former intelligence official said: "The major reaction to this is going to be from Israel and we have to worry what action the Israelis will take, because the Israelis clearly view the Iranians as their main threat in the Middle East. Iran has purchased technology for several ballistic missile programmes. "I would guess the Rodong would cost 10 million dollars" the former intelligence official said.
  • Iran test-fires Shihab-3 missile Jerusalem Post 24 July 1998 -- American officials fell short of calling the test a success, saying the rocket blew up well into its flight. "The Iranians' timetable is moving faster than we expected," said Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's communications director, David Bar-Illan. Most assessments had forecast the test-launch of Shihab-3 from the latter half of this year to mid-1999.
  • Iran completes test of medium-range missile Associated Press July 24, 1998 -- Defense and intelligence officials said they are unsure whether the Iranian test was successful, noting that the rocket exploded or was detonated about 100 seconds into the flight. The Iranian Shahab-3 missile blew up in the latter stages of its flight, either because of a mishap or because the Iranians, satisfied with its performance, detonated it by remote control, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
  • DoD News Briefing Thursday, July 23, 1998 -- I can confirm that Iran did test a medium range ballistic missile yesterday. I can't comment on any of the dynamics or characteristics of the flight at this stage. We believe it was based on a North Korean Nodong missile. The Iranian name for it is the Shahab 3.
  • U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1998 -- IRAN Missile Test: Test Launch of Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (Shahab-3) / Fully Operational Range Capabilities & Targets / Development Phase / Secretary's Speech re US Concerns About Weapons Programs & Policies Recent Positive Steps by Iran Effect of Test on Peace Process / Israeli Reaction Technology Contributions by North Korea & Russia / Vice Pres Gore's Agenda Item
  • PRESS BRIEFING BY MIKE MCCURRY July 23, 1998 MR. MCCURRY: The United States does not believe that single tests of missiles that are in various stages of research and development alter strategic balances.
  • REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS July 23, 1998 -- THE PRESIDENT: Well, we've been following this for some time. And we knew that Iran was attempting to develop this capability. It's just a test.
  • SEN. SHELBY COMMENTS ON ALLEGATIONS THAT IRAN TESTED MISSILE July 23, 1998 -- "If Iran has successfully developed and tested a weapon with a range of at least 800 miles, what is to stop them from developing the means to deliver such a weapon upon the United States or any of our allies? The time for the United States to develop and deploy a national missile defense system is now. I simply cannot believe that the Clinton Administration refuses to acknowledge the need that has existed for some time, and most certainly exists now."
  • ISRAEL EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER IRANIAN MISSILE TEST ISRAEL LINE 23 July 1998 -- Sources in Jerusalem said that they hope the Europeans will now realize that the next missile developed by Iran will be capable of reaching Europe, and that they will draw a conclusion regarding this matter.
  • U-S / IRAN MISSILE Voice of America 23 July 1998 -- THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS IRAN'S TEST LAUNCH OF A MEDIUM-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE IS A SOURCE OF CONCERN TO THE UNITED STATES BUT DOES NOT NECESSARILY AFFECT THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
  • ISRAEL / IRAN MISSILES Voice of America 23 July 1998 -- ISRAEL THURSDAY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT IRAN'S MISSILE TEST AND CALLED FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION TO STOP THE COUNTRY'S MISSILE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
  • IRAN MISSILE TEST Voice of America 23 July 1998 -- PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY IRAN'S RECENT TEST OF A MEDIUM RANGE MISSILE IS A 'WORRISOME' DEVELOPMENT. BUT OFFICIALS DENY THE TEST MEANS WASHINGTON'S EFFORT TO STOP THE SPREAD OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY IS A FAILURE.
  • CLINTON / IRAN MISSILE Voice of America 23 July 1998 -- PRESIDENT CLINTON SAY IRAN'S TEST OF A MEDIUM-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE IS GROUNDS FOR CONCERN, BUT NOT A REASON TO ABANDON EFFORTS AT DIALOGUE WITH PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI.
  • Iran is seen within two years of deploying ballistic missile By Walter Pincus WASHINGTON POST , July 23, 1998 --- Iran will be capable of deploying a Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile within one or two years depending on whether Tehran decides to buy the completed missile system from North Korea or build its own version of that country's 800-mile-range No Dong missile.
  • Missile Explodes During Test By Barbara Starr ABCNEWS.com, July 23, 1998 - A medium-range Iranian ballistic missile blew up about two minutes into a test flight that was detected late Tuesday by a U.S. intelligence satellite. The missile, launched about 100 miles southeast of Tehran, blew up right about the time the fuel in the missile would have burned off. At that point in an operational flight, the warhead would separate from the missile and fly to a target. It is believed that Iran may have purchased up to 10 No Dongs from North Korea. Currently, Iran has fewer than 50 SCUD-Bs, with a range of about 200 miles, and fewer than 50 SCUD-Cs, with a range of some 300 miles.
  • Iran Successfully Tested a Long-Range Missile that Could Strike Israel (IsraelWire-7/23) Yesterday Iran conducted a successful test of a long-range missile, capable of striking out at Israel or Saudi Arabia. The missile tested has a range of about 1,350 kilometers (810 miles). A US spy satellite detected the test on Wednesday morning, and intelligence experts were still poring over data from the launching of the missile, which they believe Iran bought from North Korea.
  • MANBAR RECEIVES 16 YEAR SENTENCE IN TREASON CASE ISRAEL LINE 17 July 1998 -- The Tel Aviv District Court on Thursday unanimously sentenced Nahum Manbar to 16 years in prison for aiding and abetting the enemy and transferring material and know-how to the enemy with the intention of harming state security.
  • ISRAEL / IRAN Voice of America 16 July 1998 -- AN ISRAELI COURT HAS SENTENCED AN ISRAELI BUSINESSMAN TO 16 YEARS IN JAIL FOR SELLING CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND RELATED TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN.
  • PAKISTAN UNLIKELY TO TRANSFER NUCLEAR ARMS TO IRAN ISRAEL LINE , JULY 10, 1998 -- Prof. Shai Feldman, Director of Tel Aviv University's Jaffa Center for strategic research, said that it is improbable that Pakistan will transfer sensitive nuclear materials or technology to Iran or any Arab state.
  • [EXCERPTS] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing 01 July 1998 -- IRAN Pres. Khatemi's remarks on Secretary Albright's speech Trial of the mayor of Tehran U.S. policy of dual containment.



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