November 18, 2004 :: Washington Post :: News
Departing Secretary of State Colin Powell recently remarked that Iran is preparing its missile systems to carry nuclear weapons. Despite the attention to the story, however, Powell’s comments do not constitute any new revelation. Nor should they come as any surprise, especially given the aid Iran has been receiving from abroad, and in particular from China and Russia. Unless and until one puts together the pieces to see the larger geopolitical alliances responsible for proliferation, one will continue to be surprised by these numerous and apparently unrelated stories.
The Washington Post, which first reported the story, quoted Powell as saying, “I have seen some information that would suggest that they have been actively working on delivery systems…You don’t have a weapon until you put it in something that can deliver a weapon,” while traveling to Chile for an economic meeting. “There is no doubt in my mind…they have been interested in a nuclear weapon that has utility, meaning that it is something they would be able to deliver, not just something that sits there,” Powell said. Whether or not this is the case, it is worth noting that Iraq too had a number of devices for detonating nuclear weapons. Today’s remark by Powell makes one wonder about another story in today’s Interfax, confirming that Russia will continue to aid Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
Like yesterday’s widely reported story of Russia’s new missile system, today’s report that Iran is adapting missiles to carry nuclear weapons is not exactly new. Although Powell does not specify the missile, it is likely what is known as the upgraded Shahan-3 or Shahab-4. Iran has tested the Shahab a number of times this year, and now refers to the 2,000km range missile as “strategic.” At the end of August, Iran was reported to have modified the Shahab warhead apparatus, which photos suggested were to to permit a reentry which would accomodate chemical weapons.
In September, the State Department sanctioned 14 entities around the world, seven of which were Chinese, for proliferation to Iran.
Yesterday, a number of news reports also carried the story that Iran had acquired highly enriched uranium in 2001, purchased through the shadowy network of A. Q. Kahn. The real source of missile and nuclear proliferation, however, is China and Russia: the sources to Pakistan and North Korea. Earlier this year, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham reported that Chinese blueprints and all the components for a nuclear warhead were found in Libya. In May, another U.S. official is quoted as saying that Iran was involved in every element of the Libyan nuclear program.
» Nov. 18: Interfax: Russia will continue to aid Iran’s nuclear program
» Apr. 27: John Bolton: Russia China proliferating; Iran lying about peaceful character of nuclear program
» Nov. 18: Powell remarks on Iranian nuclear modifications to missiles
» More stories on: China, Iran, Nuclear Weapons, Proliferation
» Missile details: Shahab-3, Shahab-4
