Congress to get tougher on Russian aid to Iran

Saturday, March 27, 1999

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The U.S. Congress, disappointed with the sanctions policy of the Clinton administration, plans to enact tougher measures to stop aid to Iran's missile and nonconventional weapons program, a House leader says.

Rep. Benjamin Gilman, chairman of House Foreign Relations Committee, said U.S. sanctions on Russia have not decreased technology transfers to Teheran's military programs. He said Congress must take what he termed a more comprehensive legislative effort to stop Russia or any other supplier of similar military technology to Iran.

"We'll make every effort to see that any legislation that we may introduce in this matter is enacted and implemented before Iran can acquire sufficient outside expertise and assistance so that it can put in place operational medium-range and long-range missiles capable of threatening our troops and our allies," Gilman said during a hearing of his committee on Thursday. "If this problem is not properly addressed, such missiles may soon directly threaten our nation as well."

Israeli and U.S. intelligence sources said Iran will complete its Shihab-3 missile program this year and begin production in 2000. They said Russian companies have increased its aid to both ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.

Gilman said Russia is also selling advanced weapons to China and intends to sell arms to Iraq and Syria.

Last year, Congress passed the Iran Missile Proliferation Sanctions Act. The bill was vetoed by President Bill Clinton.

"Three months into this Congress, there's no evidence that the assistance to Iran has been curtailed," Gilman said. "We just cannot rule out the possibility that certain elements within the Russian government are facilitating or permitting this to take place, despite, as we said earlier, clear U.S. objections that have been voiced."

At the hearing, a leading U.S. defense expert, Anthony Cordesman, said Russian arms sales have dropped significantly since 1990. He added that North Korean arms sales have decreased.

Cordesman said Iranian, Iraqi and Syrian arms imports have also decreased.