March 2, 2006 :: News
Iran has ramped up its production of missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, says a key opposition figure. Speaking to the Associated Press, Alireza Jafarzadeh, head of the Washington-based Strategic Policy Consulting think tank, stated that Iran has “significantly increased the production line” of its Shahab-3 missiles, and is now turning out missiles at a rate of approximately 90 per year, more than four times its previous production rate.
Jafarzadeh quoted unnamed sources inside Iran as confirming that Iran’s most advanced Shahab has a range of 1,900 km (nearly 1,200 miles), which would allow it to easily strike Israel and U.S. military bases throughout the region. He added that Iranian engineers, working with North Korean experts at the Hemmat Missile Industries complex in Tehran, are 70 percent finished on prototype Ghadar-101 and Ghadar-110 missiles, which are believed to have ranges of up to 3,000 km (1,800 miles), putting central Europe within range. These new missiles are believed to have a launch time of 30 minutes, compared to several hours for the Shahab-3.
Three years ago, Jafarzadeh helped reveal what was then Iran’s clandestine nuclear program. In January, he divulged details of Iran’s enrichment plans, which were confirmed a few days ago by the IAEA. (Article)
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