WASHINGTON — The U.S. intelligence community, concurring with an earlier Israeli assessment, has determined that Iran did not fire a new Shihab-3 ballistic missile.

The U.S. community concluded that the three Shihab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missiles were of a model first unveiled in 1998. Officials said the legacy Shihab-3 contained a range of 1,200 kilometers.

Hours after the Iranian launch, leading Israeli analysts said the Iranians fired old Shihab-3 missiles. The analysts suggested that the launch was meant to deter any U.S. or Israeli strike rather than demonstrate new Iranian capabilities.

The U.S. assessment came on the eve of an intelligence summit with Israel regarding Iran's nuclear weapons program. Israel has sent Mossad chief Meir Dagan, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi to outline the Iranian nuclear threat and Israeli response.

The Bush administration has been playing down Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile threat. Officials said Iran has issued a series of false claims, regarding uranium enrichment and the development of Shihab-3.

The U.S. intelligence community also determined that still photographs released by Iran of the latest missile launch were doctored. Officials said a video of the launch appeared to be that of a previous missile test.

---