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German, Russian Nationals Reportedly Aid Iran Ballistic Missile Development Program
Two German businessmen and a former Russian military officer are suspected of helping Iran develop nuclear-capable missiles, Reuters reported yesterday (see GSN, Feb. 7). The Germany nationals were charged last month in Berlin with supporting another nation’s efforts to obtain “delivery system” technology in 2001 and 2002. Prosecutors announced the charge last week but did not name the country. An anonymous German official, however, told Reuters it was Iran. “These missile technology dealers ... appear to have been acting alone and were not part of any organized gang,” the official added. Meanwhile, two intelligence officials — one European and one non-European — told Reuters that Russian middlemen are helping Iran acquire missile technology from North Korea. An EU diplomat confirmed a December press report citing Germany’s BND intelligence agency as saying that Iran purchased 18 disassembled BM-25 mobile missiles from North Korea. A former Russian military officer helped Iran acquire Soviet-made SS-N-6 missile technology from Russia and North Korea, which Iran could use to upgrade the BM-25s, according to one of the intelligence officials. “The Russian authorities either don’t know about him or don’t care,” the official said (Louis Charbonneau, Reuters, Feb. 8).
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