Iran Shows Off Missile Might

Tehran parades weapons amid mounting nuclear concern

Sept. 22, 2003

TEHRAN, Iran, — Iran, under mounting pressure to dispel fears it is developing nuclear arms, on Monday paraded six of its newly-deployed medium-range missiles which military analysts say could reach Israel or U.S. bases in the Gulf.

IT WAS THE largest number of Shahab-3 ballistic missiles put on public display since Iran announced in July that it had finished testing the weapon and deployed it to the Revolutionary Guards. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons or having aggressive military intentions and says the Shahab-3 is meant solely as a deterrent to the Islamic Republic’s enemies.

Based on the North Korean Nodong-1 and modified with Russian technology, the Shahab-3 is thought to have a range of 810 miles (1,300 km).

But the announcer at a military parade in southwestern Tehran attended by senior political figures and military top brass on Monday said the missiles had a range of 1,700 km.

It was not immediately possible to verify whether the announcer was mistaken or whether the missiles had been further modified to increase their range.

The sand-colored, long-bodied weapons were towed past dignitaries, including President Mohammad Khatami, as well as local and foreign media at the end of a lengthy parade to mark the anniversary of the start of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

Iran has not declared how many Shahab-3 it has been able to manufacture. Military analysts say questions remain about its reliability and accuracy.

The Governing Board of the United Nations nuclear watchdog earlier this month gave Iran until the end of October to dispel doubts that its stated policy of developing nuclear energy was not a cover for building atomic arms.

Iran’s government blames Israel and the United States for creating doubts about its nuclear ambitions and has said it has no intention of following North Korea’s example of pulling out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/970006.asp?0cv=CB10