Rep. Weldon warns against Iran's longer range missiles

WASHINGTON Ñ Iran has been developing a range of missiles, the most advanced of which could achieve a range of 5,000 kilometers, a leading federal lawmaker said.

Rep. Curt Weldon, a Republican from Pennsylvania, said Iran is obtaining help from North Korea and Russia to complete a range of intermediate- and long-range missiles. These include such missiles as the Shihab-3, Shihab-4 and Shihab-5, Middle East Newsline reported.

"Iran has been working now on a system, Shihab-3, Shihab-4 and Shihab-5, which now possesses a capability of sending a missile about 2,500 kilometers," Weldon said. "That covers a good part of Europe. Iran is also working on a missile system called the Shihab-5. That system will have a range, we think, of 5,000 kilometers. Iran's goal is to develop a long-range missile to eventually hit the U.S."

U.S. officials have discussed the development of the Shihab-3 and Shihab-4. But officials and many experts had dismissed the Shihab-5 as a feasible program.

In a speech to the House floor on June 19, Weldon said Iraq has a similar goal and has improved its Scud-class missiles three times in an effort to increase range and accuracy. The congressman, regarded as the leading missile expert in the House, said Baghdad wants to use its Scud missiles against the United States.

Weldon said that Moscow Ñ which is helping Iran's missile programs Ñ has been marketing missile defense systems to Israel, a target of Teheran. He said Russia has tried to sell Greece and Israel the Antei-2500 system. The system has also been marketed in the Gulf.

The Antei-2500 does not have the range that violates U.S.-Russian arms control agreements, Weldon said.