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Iran has also reported the development of a supercomputer for dual-use
applications. The semi-official Fars News Agency reported that the computer
contained 216 AMD processors and a "theoretical peak performance of 860
gig-flops."
The sources said the Ashoura
missile, similar in range to the Shihab-3, would enable Iran to rapidly
prepare an attack against Israel.
"This is a major development and exceeds the achievement of Shihab-3,"
an intelligence source said.
The sources said the liquid-fuel Shihab-3 required up to 14 hours of
launch preparations. In contrast, Ashoura could be stored with its solid
fuel and taken directly from the warehouse to the launcher.
Teheran was expected to begin serial production of Ashoura. The sources
said the missile was probably designed to carry nuclear warheads.
Iran has reported the development of Ashoura but provided few details.
Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Najar said the missile's range was 2,000
kilometers.
In another development, Iran and Russia have agreed on plans to complete
the Bushehr nuclear energy reactor. Russia's state-owned Atomstroiexport,
prime contractor of Bushehr, said the timetable would be announced over the
next two weeks.
"We have resolved all the problems with the Iranians," Atomstroiexport
president Sergei Shmatko said. "We have agreed with our Iranian colleagues
on a
timetable for completing the plant, and we will make an announcement at the
end of December."
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