The German government has apparently confirmed that Iran and Syria have obtained advanced missile technology that originated as legitimate sales to Russia. A complete story is due to be published by the German magazine Focus but summaries are already floating around.
German Firms Provided Missile Tech to Iran, Syria: Germany has confirmed that Iran and Syria have obtained advanced Geman technology for their missile programs, according to a published report. … Iran acquired German-origin measuring instruments and propulsion and guidance systems for the Shihab-3, Focus said. The missile, designed to deliver a nuclear warhead, was said to have a range of 2,000 kilometers and could strike southern Europe.This is not comforting, especially when an oil rich nation insists on building long range nuclear warhead compatible missiles while doggedly pursuing a nuclear “energy” program. Just for reference, an Iran Nuclear Program Site Map and Timeline (through September, 2005)
20 September 2005: Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani warns that snap inspections of its nuclear facilities may stop if Iran is referred to the UN Security Council. "If you want to use the language of force, Iran will be left with no choice [but] to get out of the framework of the NPT and resume enrichment," Secretary Larijani adds.The Shihab-3 missile also seems to be an aspect of the guilty plea last month of Lawrence Franklin on espionage charges.
US Espionage Conviction: Lawrence Franklin, 58, pleaded guilty to three charges in connection with retaining and relaying classified defense information to an Israeli embassy diplomat and two employees of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. … Documents submitted in the Franklin case suggested that the data relayed to Israel included information on Iraq and weapons tests in Iran. The documents do not name Iran, but government sources said the reference was to Shihab-3 intermediate-range missile tests by Teheran.Meanwhile the Muslim rioters keep setting fires in Western Europe and Mullah’s in Iran keep working towards larger fireballs.
