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CIA: Iran, Syria cooperating on missile development

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, February 24, 2000

WASHINGTON -- Iran and Syria are cooperating on missile development in programs aimed against Israel.

A new CIA report says Iran has obtained the capability of launching a missile that can strike Israel and that Teheran and its Syrian ally are cooperating on developing more lethal missiles.

"Damascus continued work on establishing a solid-propellant rocket motor development and production capability with help from outside countries such as Iran," the report said.

The CIA said Syria is obtaining help from Iran on developing solid-fuel rockets. Solid propellant rocket would allow Iran and Syria to launch missiles within hours. Preparing for a liquid fuel is far more time-consuming and dangerous.

It was the first time the CIA raised the issue of Iranian-Syrian cooperation on missile development. The report said Iran has completed several Shihab-3 missiles, with a range of 1,300 kilometers that can be made operational.

"Iran probably has achieved 'emergency operational capability' [for the Shihab-3] i.e., Teheran could deploy a limited number of the Shihab-3 prototype missiles in an operational mode during a perceived crisis situation," the report said.

The report said Iran is obtaining help from China, Russia and Syria.

The CIA disclosure comes as the Senate is considering legislation that would increase presidential authority to sanction countries that help Iran's weapons programs. The Clinton administration opposes the bill, which would require the president to submit reports to Congress every six months that identifies those providing Iran with technology and components for Iran's missile and weapons systems.

The president would be allowed to end weapons sales or economic aid to those countries. A Senate vote is scheduled for Thursday.

Sen. Joseph Biden, a Democrat from Delaware, said the bill is not anti-Russian. "But we are manifestly anti-proliferation," he said. "We will not tolerate vicious and venal persons plunging the world into a new Cold War."

So for 10 Russian companies have been sanctioned by the Clinton administration.

Thursday, February 24, 2000

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