Pentagon fears Russia, China helping Iran build ballistic missile
July 19, 2000
Web posted at: 7:33 a.m. EDT (1133 GMT)
From CNN National Security Producer Chris Plante
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Pentagon officials have expressed serious concern that Russia and perhaps China are helping Iran in its development of longer-range, ballistic missiles.
Their reaction follows a successful test launch Saturday by Iran of the Shahab-3 missile.
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The Shahab-3 has a range of up to 900 miles, said Department of Defense spokesman Kenneth Bacon. Other versions thought to be in development would have an even greater range.
"We're very concerned about help they've (Iran) been getting on a variety of programs, some from Russia, and some, we believe, from China as well," Bacon said. "And we've voiced our concern both to the governments of Russia and China about this. And we will continue to voice our concern about efforts that aid the proliferation of missiles."
The missile "puts Iran in a position to strike concentrations of our troops in the Middle East and also to strike other countries in the Middle East," he said.
"It could also put Iran in a position to strike parts of Russia, depending on where the missile would be based," Bacon warned.
Iran cites defensive needs
Iran said Tuesday the latest missile test was only for defensive purposes.
The Shahab-3 is modeled mainly on North Korea's Nodong-1 and has been improved with Russian technology.
Stymied by a Western embargo since its 1980-1988 war with Iraq, Iran has embarked on a strategy of copying and developing military hardware.
"As it was announced before, the test was done to boost the country's defensive capability and as a deterring force," said Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi.
Test could raise stakes for U.S. defense system
Saturday's test likely will aggravate debate over U.S. interest in building a national missile defense system.
Secretary of Defense William Cohen said the test demonstrates why the United States should create its own defense network.
But the proposed system has been widely criticized by leaders in Europe as well as Russia and China. Some fear that if the United States goes ahead with such a system, it will alter the delicate nuclear balance of power now in place in the world.
U.S. also worries about intercontinental missile
U.S. officials have cited what they call an emerging ballistic missile threat from "states of concern" such as North Korea, Iran and Iraq as justification for such a system.
Bacon said U.S. officials are not just worried about the Shahab-3. The Iranians are contemplating building longer-range missiles such as the Shahab-5 that could have an intercontinental range, he said.
"There isn't any conceivable reason why Iran needs a missile of intercontinental range if it's worried about regional security issues," Bacon said. "It already has, in the Shahab-3, a missile that should allow it to deter or intimidate, if that's its goal, its neighbors. So it's a little puzzling why they would want missiles of longer range, but apparently they are working on those."
Reuters contributed to this report.
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RELATED SITES:
The Pentagon
Nuclear News
National Missile Defense
Biography of Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen
Federation of American Scientists
Iran: Ballistic Missiles Update, 1999
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