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Iran exchanging weapons to Chechnya for missile technology

CAIRO [MENL] -- Iran has transferred advanced weapons to Chechen rebels in exchange for equipment needed to complete the Shihab-3 medium-range ballistic missile, an Arab newspaper reported on Friday.

The London-based A-Sharq al-Awsat said in a front-page story that Iran is sending sophisticated bombs and other weapons to Chechnya to defend the Islamic autonomous republic against the current Russian invasion. The newspaper quoted Armenian businessmen as saying they have seen the use of these weapons by Chechen forces in their fight against Moscow.

The newspaper said Iran has sent these weapons to the Chechens through Armenia and Belarus. The weapons are in exchange for equipment and parts needed to complete the Shihab-3 missile, with a range of 1,300 kilometers and which can strike Israel and the Gulf.

Western intelligence sources said Iran continues to have difficulty in completing the Shihab program. They said U.S. pressure on Russia has reduced the flow of missile technology. Another difficulty, they said, is the integration of Russian subsystems with the North Korean-based missile.

Earlier this year, Russian sources said a crisis developed between Moscow and Teheran over payment for Iran's nuclear reactor program. Russia is the prime contractor in developing the Bushehr reactor.

The sources said Iran is looking for technology and parts that have been withheld by Russia and that may be available on the black market.

Meanwhile, Iran has warned that it will reject any attempt by European leaders to appeal for the release of 13 Iranian Jews jailed on spying charges. Iranian officials responded to reports that the issue would be raised during Iranian President Mohammed Khatami's tour of western Europe later this month.

"Iran's relations with other countries are based on mutual respect and non-inteference in internal affairs," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said. "The case of the Jews is an internal Iranian matter and is the proper business of Iran's courts."

Earlier, French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine told parliament that he and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin would raise the issue during Khatami's landmark visit to Paris. "Since the announcement of the arrest of the 13 Iranian Jews, we have never stopped saying just how shocking we find it to be," Vedrine said. "We will not miss the opportunity to reiterate to Mr. Khatami the extent to which world opinion hinges on the case and how much it could influence international relations with Iran."

This would be Khatami's first visit to France by an Iranian head of state since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Khatami's planned visit to Berlin could be scrapped if German businessman Helmut Hofer, in an Iranian jail for the last two years, is not released.

In Teheran, Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos plans to leave Iran on Friday after a four-day visit. Stephanopoulos, was the second EU head of state to visit Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979.

Khatami used the Greek president's visit to attack Israel. "Israeli expansion in the region is a danger," he said. "Israel does not have good intentions, and is a source of tension in the region, in the Middle East and particular for Muslim countries."