Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

1989
A defense and economic agreement with the Soviet Union includes industrial cooperation to make Iran self-sufficient in ballistic missile production, among other areas. Iran is reportedly working on a new variant of China's M-11, named the Tondar-68. In addition, production of the Fajr-3 was expected to start in 1991. Iran has been manufacturing the Nazeat (Iran-130) for some time.
—"Iran Builds Its Strength," Jane's Defence Weekly, 1 February 1992, pp. 158-159.

1989
China and Iran discuss the possible Iranian purchase or joint production of M-9s and M-11s. Iran is interested in purchasing the CSS-2.
—"Bombs From Beijing: A Report on China's Nuclear and Missile Exports," Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, May 1991.

Late '80s-Early '90s
Iran is said to be "the primary financial backer" for a number of North Korean missile projects, including improvements to the Hwasong-5, the development of new missiles based on Scud technology, and the evolution of these missiles to longer range systems. The modified Scuds became known as the Nodong, and serve as the basis for North Korea's Taepodong-1 and Taepodong-2 missiles and a space launch vehicle.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "A History of Ballistic Missile Development in the DPRK," Occasional Paper No. 2, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, November 1999, p. 15.

1989
The Mushak-200 is produced and it is "probably propelled by a solid-fuel rocket and has a simple inertial guidance system." The Ram missile is displayed at the arms exhibit in Tehran.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," in William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds. The International Missile Bazaar: The New Suppliers Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), pp. 61-65.

1989
Because Iran helps finance the production of the improved Scuds, North Korea is reportedly sending the Scuds to Iran instead of to the DPRK military.
—Stefan Halper, "Picking a Path Through the Nuke Field," Washington Times, 7 April 1994, p. A17.

1989
The Military Weapons Exhibition of 1989 in Libreville, Gabon displays the Iran-130. Jane's Defence Magazine (Yearbook 1990-1991) describes this weapon as a surface-to-surface missile with a length of 5.9m, a diameter of 255mm, and a solid weight of 950kg. Its warhead weighs about 150kg and has a range of 90km. Its engine uses solid fuel, which creates a thrust of 1127KN. The Iran-130 was delivered to the Iranian forces and used during the eight-year Iran-Iraq War. The Iran-130, of which there are several types, reportedly has no guidance system. This weapon is currently under further development.
The Shahin missile also is on display at the Military Weapons Exhibition of 1989. This missile is described as having a length of 3.78m, a diameter [caliber] of 333mm, and a weight of 580kg. The warhead weighs 180kg and contains high explosive material. The missile has a range of 20km. Its engine reportedly uses solid fuel and has 22424KN thrust power. However, Staff Colonel Yacub Aslan notes that this thrust power estimate is questionable.
—Staff Colonel Yaqub Aslan, "World Strategic Rockets and Missiles": "Iran's Surface to Surface Missiles," Saff (Tehran), No. 229, 22 May-21 June 1999; in "Saff on Iran's Surface-to-Surface Missiles," FBIS Document FTS19990904000330, 4 September 1999.

1989
Iran starts negotiations with the Chinese for manufacturing the Chinese M-11 short-range missile with a range of 280km at the Isfahan missile production site.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Case of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 26.

1989
Wahid-e-Mashachekh, the missile sub-unit of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), is in charge of the ballistic missile program in 1989. Also this year, the Ministry of Defense and the IRGC come together to form the Ministry of Defense Armed Forces Logistics, and all the industrial compounds are combined to form the Defense Industry (DIO).
—Mikhail Kirillin, "Several U.S. Firms Engaged in Developing Missile Equipment Have Links with Iranians," Yadernyy Kontrol Dossier in Yadernyy Kontrol (Moscow), March-April 1998, No. 2, Vol. 38, pp. 37-43; in "Iran's Missile Industry, U.S. Missile Development Firms with Iranian Links"; in FBIS Document FTS19980605000876, 5 June 1998.

1989
Iran buys 150-200 CSS-8 missiles and 25-30 launchers from China.
—Anthony H. Cordesman, "Threats and Non-Threats from Iran," (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 26 January 1995), p. 15.

1989
Iran displays three locally made remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) intended primarily for reconnaissance, but which could have weapons applications. The propeller-driven RPVs have radio controlled guidance system and could signal an Iranian interest in land-attack cruise missiles.
—W. Seth Carus, "Iran and Weapons of Mass Destruction," 3 July 2000, <http://www.ajc.org/InTheMedia/Publications.asp?did=148>.

1989
News reports from the Middle East suggest that China and Iran may be planning to produce the sophisticated "M" family of ballistic missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead jointly, with Iran financing the project.
—Daniel Southerland, "China Said to Sell Missiles; Shipment Reported Bound for Middle East," Washington Post, 29 March 1990, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

1989
There are indications that China is supplying Iran with the technology to produce the 130km-range IRAN-139 missile.
—"Iran," Jane's Intelligence Review, 1 December 1992, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

3 January 1989
Iranian Prime Minister Husayn Moussavi says that Iran is nearing military self-sufficiency by building advanced fighter planes and maintaining its aging U.S.-built F-4 and F-5 fighters. He also says that Iran is now able to repair U.S.-made Hawk surface-to-air missiles without outside help.
—"The World," Los Angeles Times, 3 January 1989, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

4 January 1989
The U.S. government drops its case against Avraham Bar-Am and 10 other people indicted in federal court in 1986 for planning to sell $2 billion in U.S.-made weapons to Iran. Prosecutors could not produce witnesses to contradict the defendants' claim that they believed their plan to sell fighter planes, missiles, tanks, and spare parts to Iran was officially sanctioned by the U.S. government. Prosecutors said that Cyrus Hashemi, the government's sting operative, would have contradicted the defendants' claim that they had the U.S. government's blessing, but Hashemi died in the summer of 1986.
—"Arms-sale charges against 11 dropped," San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 January 1986, p. A4, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

12 January 1989
U.S. Customs agents charge a British businessman, Charles Caplin, with conspiring to purchase nerve gas bombs for $5 million for export to Iran. Charges are brought against Caplin in Newark, New Jersey, where Customs agents arrested a Korean-born U.S. businessman, Juwhan Yun, on charges of conspiring to export nerve gas and TOW and Stinger missiles. Yun had just returned from London, where he was asked by Caplin and two other associates to purchase 500 individual 500lb bombs [125 tons] containing the sarin nerve agent. Yun was to pay $5 million for the bombs and re-sell them to Iran.
—Leonard Doyle, "Briton on nerve gas plot charge," The Independent (London), 13 January 1989, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

12 January 1989
Juwhan Yun, president of Komex International Corporation, described as an exporting firm that deals legally in munitions sales, has sought to buy TOW I and TOW II missiles, a Stinger missile, and Varian radar tubes. The complaint filed by U.S. Customs says that Yun was acting as an agent for a South Korean trading company, Kwang Jin Trading Company, while trying to acquire the munitions.
—George James, "Nerve Gas Scheme Stopped in Jersey," New York Times, 13 January 1989, p. A14, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

24 January 1989
The United States stops the supply of Stinger missiles to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. There are reports of attempted sales of these missiles by certain Mujahideen groups to Iran.
—"Kabul regains air supremacy as US halts Stinger supply," The Times (London), 24 January 1989, issue 63299, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

February 1989
Iran is represented at the SECARM arms exhibition in Libreville, Gabon.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," The International Missile Bazaar: The New Suppliers Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., p. 62.

4 February 1989
Ken Park, a Los Altos Hills businessman, has been charged with illegally exporting missile and aircraft parts that allegedly were destined for Iran. Mr. Park, who lacked valid export licenses for the machinery, stated that the shipment was for truck and tractor parts. The shipment included parts of Sidewinder and Hawk missiles, target illuminators for Sparrow missiles and fire extinguishers used on F-14 fighter planes. Some of the shipments were located last month in Singapore awaiting delivery to Iran.
—"Bay area man illegally shipped missile parts to Iran, US says," Los Angeles Times, 4 February 1989, p. 29, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

9 February 1989
CIA Director William Webster says at a Senate committee that foreign firms are helping Third World nations, such as Libya, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, to develop ballistic missiles to deliver chemical and biological weapons.
—Robert Gilette, "CIA Chief Cites Firms' Weapons Aid to 3rd World," Los Angeles Times, 10 February 1989, p. 13, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

14 February 1989
Some U.S. officials say there are indications that China has offered to sell new Silkworm anti-ship missiles to Iran. One U.S. official says that China and Iran had reached a new arms agreement last August or September, stating, "They've got a deal going. They've got people going back and forth [between the two countries]." The same official states, "It's Silkworm [missiles] and all kinds of gear." Other high-ranking U.S. officials deny that any new Silkworm missiles from China have reached Iran yet. These officials are also not aware of any new deal involving Silkworms between China and Iran.
—Jim Mann, "China Said to Offer More Missiles to Iran; 'Sheer Rumor,' Beijing Says of Reports of New Silkworm Deal," Los Angeles Times, 14 February 1989, p. 5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

23 February 1989
The U.S. State Department says it has "no evidence" to back up media reports that Chinese ballistic missiles were being secretly shipped to North Korea for re-export to Syria, Iran, and Libya. State Department spokesman Charles Redman says, "We believe the People's Republic of China understands the concerns we have expressed, and our constructive dialogue with them thus far provides a basis for optimism with regard to the proliferation of ballistic missiles and their component technology. There is no evidence that intermediate-range ballistic missiles [IRBMs] built in China have been sent to any country besides Saudi Arabia, either directly or indirectly." Satellite observation is said to have shown up "missile-shaped boxes" on the trains, heading for the Korean city of Sinujiu, and then to Nampo port, from where North Korea "exports missiles and missile-support electronics to Iran, Libya, and Syria," Former White House official, William Safire, says.
—Martin Walker, "Washington acts to avoid arms row with China," The Guardian (London), 24 February 1989, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

19 March 1989
Mohsen Rezai, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), visits Pyongyang and meets twice with the North Korean president Kim Il Sung. During this visit he signs a weapons cooperation agreement with North Korea.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction The Case of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 23.

8 March 1989
Western diplomatic sources report that China is helping Iran build a factory that will produce missiles with a range greater than 800km. Construction of the missile factory in northeastern Iran supposedly started after the UN-mediated cease fire of 20 August 1988.
—Associated Press, "China is said to help Iran with missile plant," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 9 March 1989, p. 12A, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

9 March 1989
China is helping Iran build a plant to manufacture surface-to-surface missiles in northeastern Iran. The missiles are reported to have a range of 800km.
—"China said helping Iran to make missiles," Japan Economic Newswire (Tokyo), 9 March 1989, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

18 March 1989
Andrew Marks, a British citizen, is remanded to Isleworth Crown Court for trial. Marks is accused of illegally exporting Hawk missile systems to Iran between 11 June and 25 September 1985.
—"Missiles charge," Independent (London), 18 March 1989, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

19 March 1989
The U.S. Customs Service is attempting to halt the shipment of 129,730kg of ammonium perchlorate to Iran. The federal court case against Girindus Corp of Tampa, involves the 28 January 1988 shipment of 1,144 drums of the chemical bound for a buyer in Basel, Switzerland. In February, the cargo was seized in Rotterdam as it was being loaded onto an Iranian freighter. A U.S. Air Force official says that Iran may have needed the chemical to refuel Soviet rockets or for the development of its own short-range surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs). The amount seized would be enough to fuel approximately 300 missiles.
—"US Trying to Halt Iran Rocket Fuel," Los Angeles Times, 19 March 1989, pp.1, 10-11.

20 March 1989
A federal judge in Houston issues a temporary injunction requiring the government to release the 1,144 drums of ammonium perchlorate seized by the U.S. Customs Service. U.S. district court judge Sim Lake rules that the Customs Service had no legal authority to seize the shipment because ammonium perchlorate, in its pure form, is not on the list of weapons-related items requiring a special license from the U.S. State Department.
—"US Stalls Fuel Bound for Iranians," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 20 March 1989, p. 11A, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

20 March 1989
U.S. Customs Commissioner William von Raab maintains that the shipment of ammonium perchlorate was "clearly headed for Iran." He says that the shipment was seized with the help of Dutch authorities last year because it had been transferred from an American vessel to an Iranian ship.
—Paul Houston and Norman Kempster, "Rocket fuel for Iran blocked by customs; shipment of chemical barred pending court hearing next week," Los Angeles Times, 21 March 1989, p. 5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

20 March 1989
Iran signs agreements with Romania and Czechoslovakia for the delivery of hundreds of tanks and missiles. Under the accord with Czechoslovakia, Iran will receive an anti-tank and anti-aircraft missile factory in Isfahan.
—"Romania, CSSR to Supply Tanks, Missiles," Agence France Presse, 20 March 1989; in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-89-053, 21 March 1989.

22 March 1989
Iran has agreed to military contracts and large weapons purchases from Eastern Bloc countries. The sources say that Czechoslovakia will supply approximately 180 Soviet T-54/55 tanks that it makes under license and build a factory in Isfahan to produce anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. Romania is assisting in the modernization of a tractor factory in Arak and is negotiating the possible construction of a naval base on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
—"The World," Los Angeles Times, 22 March 1989, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

23 March 1989
U.S. officials hold up a $92 million federally financed loan for a Nevada chemical company after learning that the company was linked to the export of ammonium perchlorate seized aboard a ship bound for Iran in 1988. The seized ammonium perchlorate shipment would have enabled Iran to fuel approximately 300 missiles. The company under scrutiny is Pacific Engineering & Production Co. of Henderson, Nevada. Pacific Engineering officials deny any knowledge of how the ammonium perchlorate got to that point, saying that the chemical was sold to a U.S. company, Girindus Corp. of Tampa, Florida. Girindus Corp. officials also deny any knowledge or intent to sell the rocket fuel precursor to Iran. Girindus Corp. cites in a lawsuit seeking the return of the chemical that it had sold the ammonium perchlorate to a Swiss company, the Inter-Commerce Truehand, Handels & Franz.
—Paul Houston, "US Freezes Company's Loan Over Chemical Bound for Iran," Washington Post, 24 March 1989, p. A11, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; Paul Houston, "US Stalls Loan to Nevada Firm Over Iran Rocket Fuel," The Los Angeles Times, 24 March 1989, p. 7, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

28 March 1989
Girindus Corporation loses its bid to win the release of 1,144 drums of ammonium perchlorate, seized by Dutch police in February 1988. Girindus argues that after it sold the ammonium perchlorate to a Swiss company, it did not know of efforts to ship the chemical to Iran. U.S. Customs Service officials, however, argue in court that Girindus Corp. had prepared false shipping documents. Girindus Corp. is a subsidiary of Girindus S. A. of Switzerland.
—Michael R. Gordon, "Chemical for Iran Won't Be Released," The New York Times, 29 March 1989, p. A6, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

29 March 1989
China agrees to supply Iran with spare parts for the Scud-B missile, eight HQ-2 missile batteries (Chinese version of SAM-2), and 40 Silkworm missiles.
—"I Quarter 1989: March," Gulf/2000 Project (New York: School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University, March 1989).

April 1989
A test of the Mushak-200, with a range of 200km, is announced.
—Raytheon, "Strategic: Mushak 120," Missile Systems of the World (Raytheon, 1999), p. 456.

April 1989
U.S. citizen Mohammad Danesh illegally exports to Iran a portable oscilloscope and other sensitive electronic equipment from April 1989-October 1990 by submitting false statements to U.S. Customs officials about the exports.
—Cristina Lee, "Pair Charged with Illegal Exports to Iran," Los Angeles Times, 13 September 1991, p. D2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; Cristina Lee, "Executive Gets Prison Term for Exports to Iran; Courts: Computer Consulting Firm Manager Shipped Restricted Equipment and Misled Customs Officials About It. His Employer Faces Sentencing Next Month," The Los Angeles Times, 26 August 1992, p. D5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

April 1989
Mohammad Danesh and Reza Amiri of a Newport Beach, California computer consulting firm begin exporting a portable oscilloscope and other sensitive electronic equipment to Iran.
—Cristina Lee, "Pair Charged with Illegal Exports to Iran," Los Angeles Times, 13 September 1991, p. D2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; Cristina Lee, "Executive Gets Prison Term for Exports to Iran; Courts: Computer Consulting Firm Manager Shipped Restricted Equipment and Misled Customs Officials About It; His Employer Faces Sentencing Next Month," Los Angeles Times, 26 August 1992, p. D5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

18 April 1989
An Iranian defense industries official announces that a new surface-to-surface missile with a range of 200km had been manufactured. In addition to the new missile, the official says that Iran has manufactured the Oghab, Shaheen-1, and Shaheen-2 missiles.
—"Defense Industries Manufacture New Missile," IRNA (Tehran), 17 April 1989; in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-89-073, 18 April 1989, p. 52.

May 1989
A defense and economic agreement with the Soviet Union includes industrial cooperation to make Iran self-sufficient in, among other things, ballistic missile production.
—"Iran Builds Its Strength," Jane's Defence Weekly, 1 February 1989, pp. 158-159.

May 1989
Twenty-two nations in the Third World, including Iran, either possess or are developing ballistic missiles or long-range rockets. SIPRI also suggests that 17 of those countries have deployed ballistic missiles and all but four—Iran, Israel, South Korea, and Taiwan—have imported them.
—"Proliferation of Ballistic Missiles Worries Sipri," Financial Times (London), 18 May 1989, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

May 1989
At the IDEA '89 defense exhibition in Ankara, Turkey, Iran shows off its Oghab, Nazeat, Shahin-2, and another missile. The Shahin-1 is mentioned at this exhibit. The Iranians at the exhibit stated that they are now able to make "ammonium perchlorate...and thermal nonconductors for missile nozzles," suggesting that Iran has the capability to make "advanced ceramic components and piping by the flow-forming method."
During their visit to North Korea, Iran's Minister of Construction Foruzesh and President Khameni are probably able to secure more shipments of the Scud-Mod. B missiles. Iran will also keep funding North Korea's Scud program.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," The International Missile Bazaar: The New Suppliers Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., pp. 62-63, 57.

May 1989
North Korea and Iran reportedly reach an agreement for the continued delivery of Scud-B missiles and an extension of Iranian financing of North Korea's Scud development program.
—Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Developments," in William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., International Missile Bazaar: The New Supplier's Network (Boulder, San Francisco and Oxford: Westview Press, 1994), p. 57.

2 May 1989
Iran's deputy foreign minister announces that Tehran will buy weapons from the Soviet Union and is negotiating with other countries for the purchase of bombers.
—"Elsewhere in the World," USA Today, 2 May 1989, p. 4A, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

2 May 1989
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Mohammed Besharati tells the Tehran Times that "all related issues" with the purchase of weapons for the Soviet Union have been finalized. Iran also confirms arms deals with Romania and Czechoslovakia for tanks, missiles, and a new naval base in the Strait of Hormuz.
—"The World," Los Angeles Times, 2 May 1989, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

8 May 1989
Andrew Marks, accused of supplying restricted fighter and missile parts to Iran in 1986 and 1987, is acquitted of all 12 charges held against him at Isleworth Crown Court. He and his electronics firm, Company Logic Resource Ltd. of London, had faced charges of illegally exporting parts for Hawk missiles and F-14 fighters.
—"Iran deal man cleared; Andrew Marks," The Times (London), 9 May 1989, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

9 May 1989
Iranian President Khameini and Speaker of the Parliament Hojat-al-Islam Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani begin a 10-day visit to China and North Korea. Analysts suggest that Khameini hopes to buy Chinese and North Korean artillery, basic aircraft, and machine tools. France is poised to sell advanced missile technology to Iraq, analysts say, making it likely that Iran will try to purchase Chinese missiles—possibly through North Korea.
—Hazhir Teimourian, "Khameini heads shopping trip to communist world; Iranian visit to China and North Korea," The Times (London), 10 May 1989, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

10 May 1989
President Khameini is wrapping up arms deals during his visit with China. Though the exact nature of the deals is unknown, Iran confirms several large purchases of Chinese missiles and talks relating to communications and satellite technology. Khameini's next stop on his 10-day tour is North Korea, which Western military analysts cite as an important conduit for Chinese arms to Iran.
—Reuters, "Iranian leader talks arms with China, N. Korea," Christian Science Monitor, 10 May 1989, p. 6, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

22 June 1989
At a press conference in Moscow, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Hashemi Rafsanjani praises a series of agreements on economic and technical cooperation agreed to by the Soviet Union and Iran. The Soviet Union declares its readiness to help Iran "strengthen its defense capacity," and Rafsanjani indicates Iran's preference for mostly "technological assistance" that would enable the Iranian munitions industry to produce its own missiles, aircraft, and electronic equipment.
—Michael Parks, "Rushdie Sentence Stands, Iranian Says; Rafsanjani Indicates West Won't Get Post-Khomeini Olive Branch," Los Angeles Times, 23 June 1989, p. 14, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

22 June 1989
Rafasanjani says "In some things we have technical needs, and we intend to satisfy these from different sources."
—Reuters, "Iran, Soviet Union Agree on Defense," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 23 June 1989, p. 16A, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

22 June 1989
Middle Eastern diplomats say that Soviet arms sales to Iran would include anti-tank missiles and surface-to-air missiles.
—"Soviets sign defence deal with Iran's new leader," Toronto Star, 23 June 1989, p. A14, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

July 1989
U.S. intelligence personnel detect new activity at one of Iran's Silkworm missile sites on the Iranian coastline. "They suspected the possibility of a firing—perhaps an experiment," one official says. In Washington, Pentagon officials conclude that no Silkworm missile was fired, but some unspecified activity was noted at the Silkworm launch site.
—Patrick E. Tyler, "Saudis Negotiate for Gulf Barge Base," Washington Post, 1 August 1989, p. A22, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

July 1989
Akbar Torkan is appointed Minister of Defense in President Rafsanjani's new cabinet. Torkan was a close Rafsanjani aide, was head of Iran's Defense Industries Organization during much of the Iran-Iraq War, and was a driving force behind building it up to produce surface-to-surface missiles and other weapons to overcome the arms embargo.
—Associated Press, "Iranian President Quits as Chief of Armed Forces," New York Times, 3 September 1989, p. 4, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

12 October 1989
Iranian Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Mohsen Rezai travels to Pyongyang to meet with North Korean leader Kim Il Sung regarding final plans for the expansion of the Isfahan missile complex and to address the development project for an extended-range Scud-B (Scud-C). Iran Times says Rezai said that he had "signed an agreement covering exchange of training and war experiences, transfer of military technology and weapons, and scientific cooperation."
—Iran Times, 12 October 1989; Kenneth Timmerman, "Iran's Ballistic Missile Program," Mednews, 21 December 1992, p. 5.

25 October 1989
Iranian Rear Admiral Muhammad Hosayn Malekzadegan announces that Iran has manufactured early-warning and high-precision missile diverting systems.
—"Early Warning-Diversion Missile System Announced," IRNA (Tehran), 25 October 1989; in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-89-206, 26 October 1989, p. 64.

13 November 1989
Iranian Said Asefi Inanlou pleads guilty to one count each of conspiracy to defraud and making false statements to investigators and is scheduled for sentencing on 16 January. He has been indicted on 51 counts of stealing government property, conspiracy, exporting defense articles without a license, and making false statements to customs officials. Inanlou has helped mastermind a scheme to smuggle U.S. military hardware, including inertial navigation units and guiding mechanisms for the Phoenix air-to-air missile, to Iran. The smuggling ring was exposed in July 1985, when U.S. Customs agents arrested Edgardo and Franklin Agustin. Investigators say the ring operated between January 1981 and July 1985. The jet parts were stolen from U.S. Navy ships as well as military warehouses in the Philippines, Norfolk, Virginia, and North Island Naval Air Station.
—H.G. Reza, "Iranian pleads guilty as 8-year arms smuggling case winds down," Los Angeles Times, 14 November 1989, p. B1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

December 1989
Iranian armed forces and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) use Chinese-made Silkworm missiles and F-14 fighters in maneuvers in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. The Iranian Navy uses up to 80 speedboats mounted with assorted missiles against hypothetical enemy positions.
—Agence France-Presse, "Iran manoeuvers," The Independent (London), 14 December 1989, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

13 December 1989
During Iran's Zolfeqar-5 amphibian and air force operations, five missile units of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) fire Silkworm missiles into hypothetical enemy positions. Military experts report the operations of the Navy, Air Force, and Missile units as well as the IRGC in the Zolfeqar-5 operations are "very" satisfactory.
—"IRNA Notes Silkworm Missile Test," IRNA (Tehran), 13 December 1989; in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-89-238, 13 December 1989, p. 47; "Silkworm Missiles Tested During Naval Maneuvers," Domestic Service (Tehran), 13 December 1989; in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-89-238, 13 December 1989, p. 46.

15 December 1989
Ken H. Park, owner of Ellin International Co., is sentenced to 33 months in prison and fined $150,000 for his role in shipping guided missile parts to Iran. Included in the shipments to Iran were wing assemblies and targeting devices for the Hawk, Sidewinder, and Sparrow missile systems. The parts were falsely labeled as truck and tractor equipment destined for South Korea. U.S. Customs Service agents uncovered evidence that Park and other U.S. citizens and foreign nationals participated in a smuggling ring that sent as many as 56 arms shipments totaling $3.1 million via a Singapore firm in 1988. No other charges are filed against other members of the smuggling ring.
—Jim Doyle, "Arms Dealer Sentenced for Iran Deal," San Francisco Chronicle, 16 December 1989, p. A5, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; "California in Brief; San Francisco; Exporter Sentenced in Sales to Iran," Los Angeles Times, 18 December 1989, p. A30, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>.

29 December 1989
Israeli military sources say that Syria is approaching North Korea for assistance in the development of surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs) after China, under U.S. pressure, withdrew from a similar deal. The sources also indicate that Egypt and North Korea are engaged in a project to develop a missile based on the Soviet Scud missile; part of this project is being developed in Egypt. Retired Israeli Brigadier General Aharon Levran says that published reports indicate that North Korea is assisting Iran in the development of an indigenous SSM.
—Associated Press, "Syrian Bid for N. Korea Arms Aid Reported," Los Angeles Times, 30 December 1989, p. A8, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; "Syria Is Reported to Seek Help from N. Korea to Get Missiles," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 31 December 1989, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/>; Korea Times, 30 December 1989, p. 4, in "Missile Cooperation With North Korea Alleged," JPRS-TND-90-002, 17 January 1990, p. 12.

	Updated February 2006