Israel fears China resumes missile technology to Iran

TEL AVIV -- Israel is concerned that China has resumed the flow of missile technology to Iran in the wake of Beijing's decision to suspend cooperation on proliferation with the United States.

A senior military source said China might now feel no longer obligated to maintain its freeze of missile technology transfers to Teheran and might provide them with the necessary aid and equipment to complete its Shihab-3 program. The program has encountered difficulties although Israeli defense officials believe the missile will be completed by the end of the year.

"This is a very sensitive subject," the source said. "But we are fearful that all the restraints may have been lifted from China and the Iranians will take advantage of this."

Last month, a U.S. State Department official China has suspended defense cooperation with the U.S. and has cancelled scheduled talks on non-proliferation for the months of May and June.

Western intelligence sources believe China could provide the technology required for Iran to develop a non-conventional warhead. Iran has been working on developing either biolgical or chemical weapons warhead for the Shihab-3 missile which has a range of 1,300 kilometers.

Last month, William Shneider, a member of the U.S. presidential commission on anti-missile defense, told Congress that Iran is capable of installing a non-conventional warhead on the Shihab-3.

Israeli sources are not convinced that Iran has progressed to that stage. They said Teheran is in a hurry to complete the Shihab-3 despite Iran's failure to solve problems in the missile's guidance system.

Iran has two versions of the missile that could strike Israel, Israeli and western intelligence sources said. One is the North Korean Nodong, an advanced version of the Scud missile. The sources said the missile is ready for deployment. Iran, however, is focusing on the Shihab-3. This missile contains Russian sub-systems, several of which were tested in the missile's launch last July.

Neither Israel nor the United States has stressed China's contribution to Iran's missile or non-conventional weapons program. U.S. officials said they had obtained a pledge by China to end such aid while Israeli sources have been careful to refrain from any statements that could alter their relations with Beijing.

U.S souces have said that China was in negotiations with Iran to sell missile technology when the Clinton urged Beijing to change its policy in 1997. The Iranian-Chinese contacts included the possible sale of sophisticated metals and guidance systems which some officials believe must have been stolen from U.S. research laboratories.