Israel fears European dual-use exports to Iran

JERUSALEM -- Israel is concerned that the reformist victory in Iranian parliamentary elections will provide new impetus to Teheran's missile and nuclear weapons programs.

Senior government sources said they fear the following scenario: that the European Union will ease restrictions on dual use exports to Iran and thus allow Teheran to purchase advanced technology required to complete its strategic weapons programs.

"In the long term, we see the Iranian elections as a positive thing," a senior source said. "But in the short term, it could encourage those who want to trade with Iran to release dual use technology that could advance dangerous weapons programs."

The sources said Iran has completed its Shihab-3 program by obtaining North Korean engines. They said Teheran is now capable of firing several missiles -- with a range of 1,300 kilometers -- on short notice. At the same time, the sources said, Iran receives technology and expertise from Russian companies for the development of the Shihab-4 and Shihab-5, the latter planned for a range that can strike the United States.

Next week, the foreign ministers of Italy and Germany are scheduled to arrive in Teheran and hold talks with Iranian leaders on improving relations with the EU. The United States also wants to launch a reconciliation dialogue with Iran.

Israeli government sources said that neither the government in Jerusalem nor the Clinton administration has succeeded in stopping the flow of Russian technology to Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear program. They said both Russia and North Korea are the major contributors to the missile program while the government in Moscow is formally helping Iran's nuclear program.

"We are talking about a strategic decision by Russia to keep Iran in Moscow's orbit," the source said. "Russia does not want Iran to return to the U.S. fold and it is willing to pay with help in missiles and nuclear weapons."

More than 700 Iranian scientists and technicians are being trained in Moscow for Teheran's nuclear program. Russia and Iran insist that the training is to construct the Bushehr nuclear reactor but both Israeli and U.S. officials said the program is too large for just a reactor project.