CIA: U.S. has failed to stop Russian aid to Iran

The United States has failed to stop the increasing flow of Russian aid to Iran's missile and nonconventional weapons program.

The CIA's national intelligence estimate said Washington's appeals to Russia for an end of the transfer of missile technology to Teheran has fallen on deaf ears. The result, the report said, is that Iran has significantly advanced in its program to launch intermediate- and long-range missiles such as the Shihab-3 and Shihab-4.

"The Russian government's commitment, willingness and ability to curb proliferation-related transfers remains uncertain," an unclassified version of the CIA report said.

The report reviewed developments during the last half of 1999 and is similar to a report on the first six months of the year.

The intelligence estimate said Russia has transferred nuclear technology to Iran "useful in supporting [Teheran's] nuclear weapons research and development." U.S. intelligence sources said includes centrifugal technology to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

Russia is not the only supplier to Iran's strategic weapons program. The CIA said Iranian nonconventional weapons program is also being aided by China, North Korea and Western Europe. This includes the construction of chemical weapons plants and missile production facilities.

China, however, has limited its aid to Iran's nuclear programs, the report said. The CIA said Beijing appears to have honored its pledge not to expand aid beyond Iran's two nuclear projects.

The CIA said Iran has bolstered its conventional weapons capability. Teheran has bought attack helicopters and developing facilities to produce anti-tank missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-ship missiles and jet fighters.

The report said Syria has obtained missile-related equipment from Russia and North Korea and is building a solid-fuel missile motor plant. Libya is also trying to develop intermediate-range missiles, the CIA said.