"Iran is said to possess several, possibly purchased assembled or in kit
form from North Korea," it continued.
In addition, Teheran was said to have purchased up to $2 billion per year in military equipment from
North Korea, the report dated Oct. 5
and authored by analyst Kenneth Katzman said.
"Iran purportedly has acted as an intermediary with North Korea to
supply Syria with various forms of WMD and missile technology," the report
said.
Iran might have also produced its own small submarine. CRS
quoted an Iranian government statement in November 2007 that reported the
production of a small submarine with sonar-evading technology.
"Most of Iran's other military-to-military relationships, such as with
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, North Korea, and a few others, generally center on
Iranian arms purchases or upgrades," the report said.
The report was released as the State Department cited Iran and North
Korea as key challenges to U.S. non-proliferation policy. The administration
of President Barack Obama was deemed by CRS as trying to woo Syria to sever
its strategic cooperation with Teheran.
"Iran is a major investor in the Syrian economy, which attracts very
little Western investment, and some believe the Iran-Syria alliance is not
easily severed," the report said.
The report said although Iran lacks the "logistical
ability to project power much beyond its borders, Iranian forces could still
cause damage to U.S. forces and allies in the Gulf region."
"They are sufficiently effective to deter or fend off conventional
threats from Iran's weaker neighbors such as post-war Iraq, Turkmenistan,
Azerbaijan, and Afghanistan," the report said.
