http://www.geostrategy-direct.com/geostrategy-direct/secure/2004/12_14/ba.asp?
New Iranian weapons disclosed An Iranian opposition group has disclosed new information about Iran's missile and nuclear program, U.S. officials say. The information is based on apparent penetrations of Iranian government organizations by agents of the Mujahadeen Khalq, a Marxist group labeled by the State Department as a supporter of terrorism. Officials did not confirm all the information disclosed last week by the group. But information about the locations of several missile facilities and missile programs was accurate, they said. The group identified Hemmat Missile Industries Complex, where work is underway on a new missile known as the Ghadr 101, an improved version of the Ghadr 110. U.S. intelligence has pegged the Hemmat group for years as a consumer of missile products from Russia, China and North Korea. A CIA report made public last month stated that companies in the former Soviet Union, North Korea and China "helped Iran move toward its goal of becoming self-sufficient in the production of ballistic missiles." The assistance included equipment, technology, and expertise, the CIA said. "Iran's ballistic missile inventory is among the largest in the Middle East and includes some [806-mile]-range Shihab-3 medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) and a few hundred short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) including the Shihab-1 (Scud-B), Shihab-2 (Scud C) and Tondar-69 (CSS-8) as well as a variety of large unguided rockets," the CIA reported. Iran announced it has begun production of the Shihab-3 and new solid-fueled Fateh-110 short-range missiles. According to CIA, the Iranians have "publicly acknowledged the development of follow-on versions of the Shihab-3." "It originally said that another version, the Shihab-4, was a more capable ballistic missile than its predecessor but later characterized it as solely a space launch vehicle with no military applications. Iran is also pursuing longer-range ballistic missiles," according to the report. U.S. officials said Iran's space-launch program is a cover for its long-range missile program. According to the MEK, the Iranians also are making a longer-range version of the Shihab-3 missile known as the Shihab-4 and are working on the previously known Zelzal missile. The MEK, under one of it cover names, the National Council of Resistance of Iran, stated that the missile work is directed by the Aerospace Industries Organization and is headed by Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahid Dastjerdi. According to the group, the Ghadr has a more advanced guidance system than Shihab missiles and is solid-fueled, meaning it can be launched in 30 minutes compared to several hours of launch preparation time for the Shihab-3. The Ghadr, which means "powerful" in Farsi, is believed to have a range of between 1,550 and 1,860 miles, according to the MEK. The missile is said to be indigenously designed and not copied from Russian or North Korean missiles. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
