Iran has conducted another test flight of its Shihab-3
intermediate-range missile.
U.S. officials said the test flight took place in mid-August in northern
Iran. They said the Shihab-3 underwent a successful launch and traveled for
more than 100 kilometers before it exploded.
The officials said the reason for the explosion was not clear. They said
U.S. intelligence analysts are not certain over whether the explosion was
the result of an engine failure or whether the missile was destroyed by
remote control.
"The goals of the missile test appear unclear," a U.S. official said.
"The test could have been to test range rather than target designation.
We're still studying the data."
One official said Washington determined that the Shihab-3 missile test
was a failure. The official said the United States relayed this conclusion
in consultation with its allies.
"The test is part of an accelerated development program of the
Shihab-3," an official said. "We expect more tests to take place."
The Shihab-3, a variant of North Korea's No-Dong missile, is said to
have a range of 1,300 kilometers. The missile is known to have undergone at
least six tests, three of them this year.
Two of the six flight tests were said to have been successful. The most
successful of the test was that on May 1 when the Shihab-3 reached its
planned range and for the first time struck an unspecified target.
In contrast, the Shihab-3 exploded during fueling in a test in January.
Several people were reported killed in that test.
The officials said despite the latest failure Iran continues to market
the Shihab-3 missile. Libya is said to have been the first client of Iran's
Shihab-3.
Earlier this year, Iran began serial production of the Shihab-3.
Officials said Teheran is expected to complete the production of up to 20
Shihab-3 missiles with North Korean engines and seeks to develop an
indigenous engine to enlarge its missile arsenal.
Iran has not acknowledged the latest Shihab-3 test. On Monday, Islamic
Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Maj. Gen. Rahim Safavi said the
military is equipped with modern defenses than exceed those deployed during
the 1980-88 war with Iraq. The corps is responsible for Iran's missile and
weapons of mass destruction programs.
"Iran's armed forces are ready to stand against foreign enemies and any
form of attack and aggression on the Islamic Republic," Safavi said.
In a related development, Iran has acknowledged that Russian technicians
are assembling the first nuclear reactor at the Bushehr facility. Iranian
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said the construction of the
light-water nuclear plant is on schedule.
Asefi told a news conference on Monday that Russia has shipped the
nuclear reactor from St. Petersburg to Bushehr. He said the main turbine of
power unit number one will also be delivered by sea.
