Posted on 10/15/2005 5:35:47 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Former members of the Russian military have been secretly helping Iran to acquire technology needed to produce missiles capable of striking European capitals.
The Russians are acting as go-betweens with North Korea as part of a multi-million pound deal they negotiated between Teheran and Pyongyang in 2003. It has enabled Teheran to receive regular clandestine shipments of top secret missile technology, believed to be channelled through Russia.
Western intelligence officials believe that the technology will enable Iran to complete development of a missile with a range of 2,200 miles, capable of hitting much of Europe. It is designed to carry a 1.2-ton payload, sufficient for a basic nuclear device.
The revelation raises the stakes in the confrontation between Iran's Islamic regime and the West - led by the United States and European countries including Britain.
Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, clashed with Russian officials over Iran's nuclear programme during a visit to Moscow yesterday, saying that Teheran must fulfil its obligations under the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty.
She was later expected to urge President Vladimir Putin to back a referral of Iran to the United Nations Security Council.
A senior American official said Iran's programme was "sophisticated and getting larger and more accurate. They have had very much in mind the payload needed to carry a nuclear weapon.
"I think Putin knows what the Iranians are doing."
Iran is believed to be hiding its weapons development behind its nuclear power programme, for which it receives Russian support, and has refused to suspend uranium enrichment or to allow full UN inspections.
John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN, told BBC2's Newsnight that Iran was "determined to get nuclear weapons deliverable on ballistic missiles it can then use to intimidate not only its own region but possibly to supply to terrorists".
Iran's longest-range missile is the Shahab 3, which, with an 800-mile range, could hit Israel. The North Korean deal will allow the Iranian missile to reach targets far into Europe - including Rome, Berlin, and much of France.
North Korea has developed a missile, the Taepo Dong 2, that could reach America's west coast, based on the submarine-launched Soviet SSN6. Modifications allow it to be fired from a land-based transporter and this technology is being smuggled to Teheran with Russian help.
Russians have provided production facilities, diagrams and operating instruction so the missile can be built in Iran. Liquid propellant has been shipped to Iran. Russian specialists have also been sent to Iran to help development of its Shahab 5 missile project, which the Iranians hope to have operational by the end of the decade.
quote-Russians have provided production facilities, diagrams and operating instruction so the missile can be built in Iran. Liquid propellant has been shipped to Iran.----
if this is true it must border on sheer wackiness by the Russians. How do they justify such support.? Unbelievable
Exactly, do these missiles only fly westward?
Apparently so.... as far as the Ruskies are concerned.
Why are we treating this as news? They've been supplying Iran with this type of technology for some time and lord knows who else...our so-called allies.
Who is China supplying? while we're at it?
Oh yeah, and Germany and France?
The damn Russians have a lot of nerve helping the worst Islamic terrorist rouge state on the face of the earth with gaining long range offensive nuclear weapons. Yet we are told now Moscow is our friend (?)
I guess it is all about the moola.. ching ching
Welcome to the real world
They will "abstain" from "voting".
Seriously though, they feel there is a need to always maintain a counter-balance of some sorts to keep the world "stable" somewhat. Can't say i agree with them....
We should take Iran's oil and gas fields, a small area and modest task. We would put revenues in trust. This would stop this nonsense in its tracks. If we don't act soon, Iran will have deliverable nuclear abilities and it will be too late.
Considering all the problems Russians have with jihaadism on their borders, why on earth would their leadership help the mullah dictatorship in Iran?
To get Europe to stop being EU...or to get Europe to assist them in killing off the militants.
Tough to figure out which side to root for on this one.
F'in Commies
ping
You're right. It's all about the money.
Putin's probably afraid of in'sultan' the mullahs.
Russia is a whore selling all she has left to sell to anyone willing to buy it.
This is not the first time an insecure Russian state has allied with those who intend to destroy her; but it could well be the last time.
Iran needs only time, and that is the one thing the west is apparently willing to grant.
Russia's Islamic revolt is spreading
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