IRAN has received a first batch of surface-to-surface missiles that put some central European countries within firing range, Israel's military intelligence chief claimed yesterday.
The 18 BM-25 missiles, purchased from North Korea, have a range of 1,550 miles and are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Israeli security officials said the new missiles would put eastern and parts of central Europe within firing range, including the Czech Republic, Italy and Romania.
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Israel claims Iran has missiles which can reach Europe
ARON HELLER
IN JERUSALEM
IRAN has received a first batch of surface-to-surface missiles that put some central European countries within firing range, Israel's military intelligence chief claimed yesterday.
The 18 BM-25 missiles, purchased from North Korea, have a range of 1,550 miles and are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Israeli security officials said the new missiles would put eastern and parts of central Europe within firing range, including the Czech Republic, Italy and Romania.
The BM-25 was originally manufactured in the Soviet Union, where it was known as the SSN6.
The latest report, in the Haaretz daily newspaper, comes as UN members consider placing sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment. The United States, Israel and other Western countries say Iran is trying to get nuclear arms, but the Islamic regime says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only.
The UN Security Council has given Iran until today to stop enriching uranium, a necessary step for developing nuclear weapons. Should Iran refuse to comply, which it has indicated it will do, the Security Council is likely to consider taking punitive measures.
Major General Amos Yadlin, head of the Israeli army's intelligence unit, has warned of the new Iranian missiles in several recent interviews to the media. Iran already has missiles capable of reaching Israel, but the BM-25 missiles are a significant upgrade over its existing top-of-the-line missiles - the Shihab-4 and Shihab-3.
Those missiles spurred Israel to develop its Arrow 2 anti-ballistic missile system, which can intercept the Iranian missiles.
Israeli concerns have been heightened in recent months by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls to wipe Israel "off the map".
American intelligence officials have said that Iran is at an advanced stage of developing a missile that can carry a nuclear warhead. The United States has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of the details of the Iranian missile programme.
On Tuesday, Israel launched a satellite meant to spy on Iran's nuclear programme. The satellite, launched from Russia, is designed to spot images on the ground as small as 70 centimetres (27.5 inches) and would allow Israel to monitor Iran's nuclear program and long-range missiles, an Israel defence official said.
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=634472006
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