Intelligence

Russians gave aid with nukes: report

Herald Sun: Russians gave aid with nukes: report [17oct05]

17oct05

FORMER members of the Russian military have been accused of secretly helping Iran produce missiles capable of striking in the heart of Europe.

Britain's Sunday Telegraph has reported the Russians have been acting as go-betweens with North Korea.

Their help has enabled Tehran to receive regular clandestine shipments of top-secret missile technology, believed to be channelled through Russia.

Western intelligence officials believe the technology will enable Iran to finish developing a missile with a range of more than 3500km.

It can carry a 1.2 tonne payload, enough for a basic nuclear device.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday failed to win Russia's support for referring Iran to the UN Security Council if the Islamic republic refuses to resume talks over suspected nuclear arms programs.

Dr Rice flew to Moscow on a surprise trip to press President Vladimir Putin to commit to backing the move, and the potential for international sanctions, if Iran continues to defy the West.

But with Russia wary of measures against a country it has strong commercial ties with, Mr Putin was unmoved.

He reaffirmed Russia's position that the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency should deal with Iran.

A senior US official was quoted as saying Iran's program was "sophisticated and getting larger and more accurate".

"They've had very much in mind the payload needed to carry a nuclear weapon. I think Putin knows what the Iranians are doing," he told the Telegraph.

The US accuses Iran of hiding its weapons development behind its nuclear power program.

Iran has refused to suspend its uranium enrichment program or allow full UN inspections. – REUTERS

October 16, 2005 at 12:54 PM in Iran | Permalink | Top of page | Blog Home