China comes to rescue of Iran's long-range missile program
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By Steve Rodan, Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Thursday, September 6, 2001
Despite a slowdown in Russian aid, Iran continues development of its
long-range Shihab-4 missile.
Western and Middle East intelligence sources said the Shihab-4 project
has been largely taken over by China. They said the reports of a suspension
of the missile program are the result of Iranian disinformation.
"They are being pressured, particularly by the European Union, to stop
Shihab-4," a senior intelligence source said. "So, there have been stories
put out that Shihab-4 has been suspended. But the truth is far from that."
Iran and EU representatives met this week in Teheran to discuss trade
relations and strategic issues. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal
Kharazi is scheduled to visit Brussels in continuation of the dialogue.
EU officials have complained to Iran that they might be forced to
participate in a U.S. missile defense system because of the threat from
Iran's Shihab-4. The missile is said to have the capability to strike much
of southern Europe.
The intelligence sources, who include those from the United States,
provide the following account of the Shihab-4 program. They said that over
the last year the transfer of Russian missile technology has been
significantly reduced under President Vladimir Putin.
Last month, the Russian government drafted a list of dual-use products
that require export licenses. The list was drafted in cooperation with the
Defense Ministry.
The Russian slowdown in technology transfer to Iran has resulted in
China's return to the Shihab-4 program. The Chinese, the sources said, have
provided China with technology for both solid-fuel engines and
specially-treated metal required for the missile. They said much of the
Chinese technology was originally obtained from Moscow.
The greatest help being provided by Chinese, the sources said, is in
simulation testing. Beijing has been testing components of the Shihab-4
through the use of supercomputers. The supercomputers reduce the need for
flight testing, the result of which is that the West, particularly the
United States, is uncertain of Iran's progress in the missile program.
Much of the supercomputers and simulation systems were obtained from the
United States, the sources said.
Previous U.S. assessments asserted that Shihab-4 could be ready by next
year. The sources said the Shihab-4 program is actually the development of
two missiles. One is that of a range of about 2,400 kilometers. The second
is of a missile with a range of 5,500 kilometers, sometimes called the
Shihab-5.
The sources said the biggest challenge for the program is in integration
of the missiles. They said Russia has provided the technology for the engine
as well as helped design the fuselage for the
missile.
The Shihab-4 program was a key subject during the visit by Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon to Moscow on Tuesday. The subject was also discussed
last week in Washington during the official strategic dialogue with the
United States. Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer is expected to
resume the talks during his planned visit to Washington next week.
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