Missile tests by Iranians debunked by the US

Published on Saturday 12 July 2008 19:43

MISSILE tests by Iran last week demonstrated no new capabilities, according to a senior US official, who spoke amid reports that the tests may not have included longer-range missiles claimed by Iranian officials.

They said the tests on Wednesday and Thursday demonstrated a new variant of the Shahab missile with a range of 1,250 miles. Such a missile would put much of the Middle East in striking distance, including Israel, 650 miles from Iran, as well as Turkey, Pakistan and the Arabian peninsula.

The tests drew immediate criticism from US officials. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Eastern Europe when the launches occurred, said the missile tests underscored the need for a US defensive missile system in the region.

But an independent national security blog, ArmsControlWonk.com, analysed video footage of the launch posted by the Iranian government. It determined the missiles were identical to a version of the Shahab missile first demonstrated in Iran in 1998 that has a known range of 746 miles.

In a posting called "Same old Boring Shahab 3", it compared the diameter of the missile to its length and found it to be identical to the 1998 version.

Unless the Iranians have built a larger missile with the same length to width ratio, dramatically improved the thrust of the rocket or decreased its internal structural mass, the missile could not achieve the range Iran claimed it did. Otherwise, it is the same knock-off of North Korea's Nodong-1, the blog determined.

Iran falsely claimed in February that it launched a two-stage missile, which later analysis determined to be a one-stage Shahab missile, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Washington arms control advocacy think tank.

"Iran frequently exaggerates the capability of its missiles, and it appears it is continuing that tradition with this week's tests," said David Wright, the co-director of the Union's Global Security Program.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the tests are being taken seriously and were an attempt to destabilise the region.

"We don't believe this exercise to have been an illusion," he said. But he added: "They were not testing new technologies or capabilities, but rather firing off old equipment in an attempt to intimidate neighbours."

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki yesterday said the US and Israel "do not possess capacities to get themselves involved in a new crisis". But he warned Iran will deal a "crushing response" if they do attack.