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Iran: Shahab-4 Missile Could Hit Europe, U.S. Official Says A senior Bush administration official has said that Iran is developing a long-range missile capable of striking NATO countries in Europe with the assistance of Russia and other countries, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 15). Iran’s Shahab-4 missile would have an initial 1,250-mile range but could later be upgraded to reach Italy, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Greece, the official said, according to the AP. U.S. officials have said Iranian missile development is occurring at the same time the country is developing nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, the AP reported. Although the United States has expressed concern about Iranian development of weapons of mass destruction and support for terrorism, Iran is highly unlikely to strike the European states, which have normal relations with Iran, the AP reported. Improving Shahab-3 Older Iranian missiles have shorter ranges that could strike Israel, Turkey and U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, but a U.S. defense official said yesterday that the Shahab-3 is not considered completely reliable (see GSN, March 4). Iran is working to improve the Shahab-3’s “destructive power, accuracy and range,” Iranian Defense Minister Adm. Ali Shamkhani said yesterday on Iran’s state-run radio (see GSN, Feb. 7). Russian Assistance The senior official who spoke about the Shahab-4 expressed U.S. concern regarding Russian technological assistance to Iran (see GSN, May 7). “We’re concerned that Russian technology and expertise is helping Iran to increase the accuracy and distance of their missiles, and that Russian technology and expertise is helping Iran develop fissile material,” the official said. Russian assistance to Iran is “a piece of baggage that weighs down” the U.S.-Russian relationship, the official said. A CIA report released this year (see GSN, Jan. 31) said Iran receives missile technology and equipment from Russia, North Korea and China (George Gedda, Associated Press/Yahoo.com, May 7).
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