Iran confirms progress of Shahab-3 missile
Iran has finished testing its Shahab-3 missile, a midrange weapon capable of reaching Israeli, Iranian foreign ministry officials confirmed Monday.
Shahab-3 is based on North Korea’s No-Dong-1 missile technology and was improved with Russian expertise. It has a range of 806 to 930 miles.
The US Department of State slapped sanctions on a North Korean firm and five Chinese companies last week after they were alleged to have sold missile technology to Iran.
Iran, which sits uncomfortably on George W Bush’s “axis of evil,” has ignored the US’ plea to end the missile’s development.
The US believes the acquisition of nuclear weapons and further extension of Iran’s missile conventional missile programme will undermine security in the Middle East.
The announcement will raise further questions on Iran’s willingness to arm itself with nuclear weapons. Iran says it wants to go nuclear for defence purposes.
Israel, for its part, said it was most concerned with the development.
Avi Pazner, an Israeli government spokesman said: “We are very concerned, especially since we know that Iran is seeking to acquire the nuclear weapon.”
On Wednesday, Iran will hear the arguments from Mohammad ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
He is expected to urge Iran to sign and embrace the additional protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, allowing for more rigorous inspections of the regime.
