U.S.: Iran missile tests successful

WASHINGTON -- Iran has succeeded in improving the range and accuracy of its intermediate-range missiles, Middle East Newsline reports.

U.S. officials said Iran has demonstrated these achievements in tests this year of the Shihab-3 missile. The missile, based on the North Korean No-Dong, has a range of 1,300 kilometers and was tested in February.

The tests were reported as successful amid accelerated help by Russia, which has managed to modify much of the No-Dong structure with Russian subsystems. The officials said Iran appears ready to complete development of the Shihab-3, satisfied with the achievements.

"We still worry about the weapons of mass destruction program that Iran has, its pursuit of nuclear capability and of its missiles which it continues to test with greater range and accuracy,'' U.S. Gen. Anthony Zinni, the commander of U.S. forces in the Gulf, said.

Zinni was speaking in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday during a farewell tour of the Gulf. He has often expressed concern over Iran's missile and nuclear weapons programs.

U.S. officials said Iran is also developing nuclear weapons. They said Russia has supplied Teheran with technology to enrich uranium required for production of fissile material for nuclear warheads. Iran has denied the assertion.

Zinni also said Iran continues to support terrorism and endanger the Gulf. He said the United States is also concerned over Iranian aid to the smuggling of Iranian oil in violation of United Nations sanctions.

"We had seen a few months ago where Iran had begun enforcing UN sanctions against the smuggling ships and we thought that this was a good measure," he said. "However, recently, we have seen some of the smuggling ships able once again to use Iranian territorial waters to escape the sanction enforcers and continue smuggling."

Zinni said the revenue from the smuggled Iraqi oil could help President Saddam Hussein rebuild his military. He also expressed opposition to any easing of UN sanctions on Iraq.

"I think someone like Saddam would use that to rebuild his military," he said.