European Powers Now Claim That Iran Has Developed Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missiles

CNN: France, Germany and UK reiterate claim that Iran has nuclear-capable ballistic missiles

Ambassadors from France, Germany and the UK have again alleged that Iran has developed nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, in a joint letter addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General officially released by the UN on Wednesday.

The ambassadors listed four examples of activity indicating nuclear-capable missiles, adding that "Iran's developments of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles and related technologies is inconsistent" with a UN resolution restraining the country from doing so.

The European countries -- all signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal -- have previously written to the UN about Tehran's alleged nuclear activity, claiming "these activities are the latest in a long series of advances in Iranian ballistic missile technology."

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WNU Editor: Iran is saying that they are conforming with UN regulations .... Iran says its ballistic missile & space launch program is in line with UN resolution (RT). They are also declaring that they will not stop .... Iran vows to continue missile work, dismisses EU powers' U.N. letter (Reuters).

More News On France, Germany, And The UK Claiming That Iran Has Developed Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missiles

Iran developing nuclear-capable missiles, European powers warn UN -- BBC
Iran working on nuclear-capable missiles: European powers -- AFP
Europeans, Iran to cross swords at nuclear talks -- Reuters
Europeans warn Iran over nuclear-capable missile development -- Al Jazeera
France: Iran Ballistic Activities Do Not Conform With U.N. Resolution -- Washington Free Beacon
France, Germany And UK Say Iran Has Nuclear-Capable Missiles -- Radio Farda
Iran to continue ballistic missile program despite EU warning -- DW

Contradicting Earlier Reports, Iran Says That The Ballistic Missile Program Is Not Negotiable

Sputnik: Iran Rules Out Negotiations on Its Ballistic Missile Program

Iranian Foreign Ministry said that its defense ballistic missile program is not negotiable and doesn't contradict the nuclear deal.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Bahram Qassemi denied on Friday media reports about Iran's readiness to discuss its ballistic missile program.

Earlier in the day, the Reuters news agency reported, citing Iranian and Western officials, that Iran was ready to discuss its ballistic missile program with six international mediators, which are signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iranian nuclear deal.

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Update: Iran repudiates ballistic missile talks (Washington Examiner)

WNU Editor: So much for these earlier reports .... Iran Signals That It Is Open To International Talks On Its Ballistic Missile Program (October 6, 2017).

Iran's New Missile Looks Like North Korea's

The Warzone/The Drive: Iran's New Ballistic Missile Looks a Lot Like a Modified North Korean One

The Iranians showed off the new missile after fiery rhetoric from President Trump and threats to scrap the Iran Deal.

Shortly after revealing the new Khorramshahr medium range ballistic missile to the public for the first time, Iran released a never before seen video showing a successful test of the weapon, but did not give a date or place for the footage. The new development will undoubtedly have an impact on whether U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration decide to scrap a deal with Iran over its controversial nuclear program, but it also underscores long-standing concerns that the Iranian authorities have been working with the North Koreans and other allies to skirt their international obligations.

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WNU Editor: WNU has been documenting this Iran - North Korea connection/relationship for years ....

The Iran Connection To North Korea's Missile Launch (December 16, 2012)
After This Weekend's North Korean Missile Test Will Iran Now Want To Buy This Rocket? (February 8, 2016)
The Pentagon Is Taking Note On The Growing Iran-North Korean Military Alliance (May 5, 2017)
Did North Korea Cooperate With Iran In Its Latest Missile Test? (February 4, 2017)

It Appears That Iran Has Chosen Ballistic Missiles As Its Preferred Method To Deliver A Nuclear Warhead

A ballistic missile is launched and tested at an undisclosed location in Iran in this handout photograph released by the official website of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps March 8, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS/SEPAHNEWS.COM/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS

Washington Free Beacon: Intel Report: Iran Refining Nuke Delivery System in Flagrant Violation of Ban

Increased ICBM work offers pathway to long-range nuclear weapon.

Iran continues to make critical technological strides in its efforts to perfect an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering nuclear weapons over great distances, efforts that violate international prohibitions, according to the director of national intelligence, who informed Congress this week that the Islamic Republic "would choose ballistic missiles as its preferred method of delivering nuclear weapons."

The disclosure comes just days after Iranian leaders announced the upcoming launch of two new domestically produced satellites. Iran has long used its space program as cover for illicit missile work, as the know-how needed to launch such equipment can be applied to long-range ballistic missile technology.

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WNU Editor: When the Iranian nuclear deal was signed there was hope that the spirit of the agreement would result in Iran stepping back from some of its military programs .... such as their ballistic missile program. Unfortunately .... it appears that this is not the case.

Iran Unveils A New Underground Missile Depot Site

Reuters: Iran unveils second underground missile, likely to irk U.S.

Iran unveiled a new underground missile depot on Tuesday with state television showing Emad precision-guided missiles in store which the United States says can take a nuclear warhead and violate a 2010 U.N. Security Council resolution.

The defiant move to publicize Iran's missile program seemed certain to irk the United States as it plans to dismantle nearly all sanctions on Iran under a breakthrough nuclear agreement.

Tasnim news agency and state television video said the underground facility, situated in mountains and run by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was inaugurated by the speaker of parliament, Ali Larijani. Release of one-minute video followed footage of another underground missile depot last October.

WNU Editor: The Iranians are bragging.

More News On Iran Unveiling A New Underground Missile Depot Site

IRGC’s 2nd Underground “Missile City” Unveiled -- Tasnim News Agency
Iran moves ‘Emad’ ballistic missiles to underground base -- Washington Times
Iran flaunts second underground missile facility -- Times of Israel/AFP
Iran unveils new underground missile depot on state TV -- FOX News
Iran shows off another underground missile depot -- Times of Israel
Iran shows off second underground ballistic missile facility -- DW
Iran showcases new missile storage facility on state TV -- i24 News
Iran reveals 'missile city' bunker for new weapons -- Middle East Eye
Parliament Vows Support for Iran Missile Budget -- Tasnim News

Iran's Recent Missile Test Violated A U.N. Security Council Resolution

An Iranian Emad rocket is launched as it is tested at an undisclosed location October 11, 2015. REUTERS/farsnews.com/Handout via Reuters

Reuters: Exclusive: Iran's October missile test violated U.N. ban - expert panel

The medium-range Emad rocket that Iran tested in October was a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, which makes it a violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution, a team of sanctions monitors said in a confidential new report.

The conclusion of the council's Panel of Experts on Iran will likely lead to calls for expanding sanctions against Tehran in Washington and some other Western capitals. The White House said on Tuesday that it would not rule out additional steps against Tehran over the missile test.

"On the basis of its analysis and findings the Panel concludes that Emad launch is a violation by Iran of paragraph 9 of Security Council resolution 1929," the panel said in its report.

Update: UN experts say Iran missile firing violated UN sanctions -- AP

WNU Editor: This violation deserves sanctions .... but it is not going to happen. Iran has made it very clear that any new sanctions will result in them walking away from the nuclear deal that was negotiated early this year. In the eyes of this administration .... such a failure would damage President Obama's most important foreign policy achievement .... hence no sanctions.

Iran Reveals A Secret Massive Underground Missile Complex

Trend (Iran): Iran reveals underground missile base (VIDEO)

Iran has for the first time released the footage showcasing one of its underground missile bases.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) was permitted to enter a base located 500 meters below the ground, and take its video for the first time, which was aired by the IRINN TV Oct. 14.

“Iranian missiles of varying ranges are ready to be launched from underground bases once Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei orders to do so,” IRINN TV quoted the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh as saying Oct. 14.

He explained that Iran created missile bases in all the provinces and cities throughout the country at a depth of 500 meters.

WNU Editor: The Iranians are not even hiding what they are doing. This video is directed at an Iranian audience, but it is also directed at Israel/Saudi Arabia/Gulf States/and the U.S..

More News On Iran Show-Casing A Secret Massive Underground Missile Complex

Iran's Elite Revolutionary Guard Showcases Secret Underground Missile Base -- Haaretz/AP/Reuters
Iran shows off underground base with long-range missiles -- Times of Israel/AP
WATCH: Iranian Revolutionary Guard reveals underground missile base -- Jerusalem Post
Iran broadcasts footage of underground missile base -- AFP
In show of military might, Iran shows off underground missile base -- FOX News
Iran displays underground missile layout -- Xinhuanet
These are the first photos of an underground Iranian missile base -- Business Insider

Iran Claims That Their Ballistic Missile Program Is Not Covered By The Iranian Nuclear Deal

Illustrative photo of a Fateh-110 ballistic missile, taken at an Iranian armed forces parade in 2012. (military.ir/Wikimedia Commons)

Times of Israel/AFP: Iran says UN can’t ban ballistic missiles under nuke deal

After Security Council endorses pact, Tehran claims prohibition on missile development not relevant to world body, adds atomic watchdog won’t want to inspect military sites

Iran said its ballistic missile program was not connected to the UN Security Council resolution adopted Monday, which endorses its July 14 nuclear accord with world powers.

A statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry also said that it was “certain” the International Atomic Energy Agency will not request to inspect its military sites.

Under the terms of the nuclear deal, Iran is barred from developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

Iran says it has built ballistic missiles with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), capable of striking its arch-foe Israel.

But the Foreign Ministry said the UN’s resolution endorsing the deal did not have jurisdiction over its missile development.

WNU Editor: I always enjoy telling my GF that the reason why I read the bible is to look for loopholes. Well .... the Iranians are doing the same thing with their nuclear deal .... they are looking for the loopholes while ignoring the spirit that was behind the agreement in the first place. And while I am not surprised that the Iranians are doing this .... I am surprised that they are doing it so soon after signing this agreement.

Iran Displays Its Newest Land-Based Cruise Missile

The Algemeiner: Iran Unveils Surface to Surface Missile With 2500 KM Range; Weapon is Direct Threat to US Vessels in Persian Gulf

The Defense Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Brigadier General Hussein Dahqan, revealed on Sunday Iran’s new surface-to-surface cruise missile, the “Soumar.”

Dahqan also pointed to the Defense Ministry’s new strategy of developing and producing smart weapons for Iran’s armed forces, and introducing a new generation of advanced weapons. He said that the long-range “Soumar” system was developed and produced by the Defense Ministry’s aerospace experts, according to Hezbollah affiliated Al-Manar.

More News On Iran Displaying Its Newest Land-Based Cruise Missile

Iran unveils long-range cruise missile -- Tehran Times
Iran to Unveil Long-Range Version of Missile Defense System -- Tasnim
Iran unveils new land-based cruise missile system amid nuclear talks -- UPI
Iran army unveils its new Soumar long-range cruise missile -- RT
Iran Unveils New Long-Range Cruise Missile -- Sputnik
Iran unveils new long-range cruise missile -- Haaretz
Iran's New Missile Puts Israel 'in Range' -- Arutz Sheva
Why Iran Should Have Missile Capability -- Masoud Rezaei, The Diplomat

Iran Announces Major Missile Breakthrough

Iran Announces Missile Breakthrough -- Al Jazeera

Tehran says it has perfected multiple-warhead, medium-range ballistic missiles designed specifically to hit US bases.

Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard said it had acquired missiles with multiple warheads, the latest armaments advance to be claimed by the country.

At a ceremony held on Wednesday, Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan announced four types of ballistic missiles named Qiam, Qadr H1, Fateh-110 and Persian Gulf.

The Qadr H1 and Qiam, he said, were equipped with multiple warheads, greatly boosting their destructive power.

"These missiles are able to hit and destroy enemy targets with precision, and they meet a variety of the armed forces' needs," Dehghan said.

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More News On Iran Announcing A Major Missile Breakthrough

Iranian Defense Ministry Equips IRGC with New Ballistic Missiles, Air Defense System -- FARS News Agency (Iran)
Exclusive: Iran Equips Qadr H, Qiam Ballistic Missiles with MRV Payloads -- FARS News Agency (Iran)
Exclusive: Iran Improves Precision-Targeting of Ballistic Missiles -- FARS News Agency (Iran)
Mass delivery of Iran ballistic missiles to Armed Forces -- Press TV (Iran)
Iran's Guard says it has multiple warhead missiles -- AP
Iran Says It Acquired Ballistic Missiles With Multiple Warheads -- Radio Free Europe
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard acquires new multi-warhead missiles -- Al-Monitor
Iranian Defense Minister Boasts of Ballistic Missile Precision: ‘Margin of Error Below 5 Meters’ -- Algemeiner

My Comment: Iran has a long history of exaggerating their military capabilities .... but if this one is true .... it is a major achievement as well as a worrisome development.

Iran Stands Committed To It's Nuclear And Missile Program

Rouhani Says Nuclear Program 'Forever' As Iran Marks Anniversary Of Islamic Revolution -- Jerusalem Post

Senior military aide to Supreme Leader Khamenei says if Iran attacked, Hezbollah would destroy Israel.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed on Tuesday a Western assertion that military force could yet solve a decade-old nuclear dispute if negotiations proved fruitless, pledging that Iran would pursue peaceful atomic research "forever."

In a speech marking the 35th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, Rouhani also attacked economic sanctions imposed by the West as "brutal, illegal and wrong" and said countries in the region had nothing to fear from Iran.

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More News On Reports That Iran Will Stay Committed To It's Nuclear And Missile Program

Iranian Officials Underline “Red Lines” Against Dismantling Nuclear Infrastructure, Halting Ballistic Missile Development -- The Tower
Rouhani calls for national unity, healing; says Iran will not relinquish defense capability -- Washington Post
Rouhani calls for 'fair' nuclear talks as Iran marks revolution -- AFP
Iran "forever" comments on nuclear programme seen as sop to hardliners -- Reuters
Rouhani critics step up opposition to Iranian nuclear deal -- The Guardian
Iran tests new ballistic missiles, saying they are not part of a deal to limit its nuclear work -- Euronews
Iran Says It Successfully Tests New Missiles -- Radio Free Europe
Missiles are a message to United States, Iran says -- UPI
Hassan Rouhani fends off Iran’s hardliners . . . for now -- Roula Khalaf, Financial Times

Iran Boasts Of Advancements In Their Missile Program

IRGC Brigadier General Hossein Salami. FARS News Agency

Iran Announces Development of Ballistic Missile Technology -- Washington Free Beacon

IRGC leader: ‘We own this technology as well’

A top Iranian military leader announced late Tuesday that Iran has developed “indigenous” ballistic missile technology, which could eventually allow it to fire a nuclear payload over great distances.

Brigadier General Hossein Salami, the lieutenant commander of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), made the critical weapons announcement just days after Iran and the West signed a deal aimed at curbing the country’s nuclear activities.

Salami claimed that “Iran is among the only three world countries enjoying an indigenous ballistic missile technology,” according to the state-run Fars News Agency.

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Update: IRGC Commander: Iran Among Rare World States with Ballistic Missile Technology -- FARS News Service (Iran)

My Comment: Talk about coincidences .... announcing this missile breakthrough only a few days after a "nuclear deal"?

Satellite Images Show Explosion At Iranian Missile Base

Images Show Explosion At Iranian Base Cause Extensive Damage -- CNN

(CNN) -- An Iranian military compound that blew up earlier this month was extensively damaged, the Institute for Science and International Security said after an analysis of new satellite imagery.

ISIS compared a November 22 image from DigitalGlobe to one from September.

"Some buildings appear to have been completely destroyed. Some of the destruction seen in the image may have also resulted from subsequent controlled demolition of buildings and removal of debris. There do not appear to be many pieces of heavy equipment such as cranes or dump trucks on the site, and a considerable amount of debris is still present," according to the analysis posted on ISIS website.

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Update #1: Satellite image shows damage to Iran missile base -- Jerusalem Post
Update #2: Satellite images of Iran explosion -- CNN

My Comment: Wow .... according to the pictures that I have seen .... much of the base was destroyed or damaged. On the bright note .... this explosion has probably delayed Tehran's missile development track.

Iran Testing Missiles That Can Carry Nuclear Weapons

A ballistic missile is launched during the second day of military exercises codenamed Great Prophet-6, for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards at an undisclosed location. Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards fired 14 missiles in the exercise. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Iran Testing Missiles That Could Carry Nuclear Weapon, UK's Hague Says -- CNN

London (CNN) -- Iran has been carrying out covert tests of missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payload, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said Wednesday, in contravention of a U.N. resolution.

It has also said it wants to enrich uranium to "levels far greater than is needed for peaceful nuclear energy," Hague said.

Iran's development of missile and nuclear fuel technology has led to U.N. sanctions and accusations from the United States that the clerical regime is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

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The West fears Iran is developing ballistic missiles to enable it to launch atomic warheads (AFP/Graphic)

More News On Iran's Missile Tests

Iran secretly tested 'nuclear-capable missiles' -- AFP
Iran Conducting Secret Nuclear Missile Tests, UK Secretary Says -- FOX News/AP
William Hague concerned over Iranian missile tests -- BBC
UK: Iran conducting secret ballistic missile tests -- Seattle Times/AP
Britain Says Iran Conducting Secret Missile Tests -- Radio Free Europe
Iran conducting secret nuclear tests, Britain says -- New York Post
Iran testing missiles with nuclear capability - UK -- Reuters
Iran test-fires missiles, shows secret silos -- Washington Post
Iran missiles hidden deep underground -- Sydney Morning Herald
Iran denies British nuclear missile claim -- Reuters
Iran's war games go underground -- Robert Fisk, The Independent

Are The Russians And Chinese Helping The Iranians In Their Missile Program?

The Mullahs' Missile: Iranian clerics watch a test of a Shahab-3 ballistic missile, with a 2,000 km range, in the desert outside Qom, Iran. AFP-Getty Images

From The Washington Times:

A researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology reports that he has acquired internal Iranian documents showing China and North Korea's close involvement in Iran's missile program.

Geoffrey Forden, a research associate at MIT's Science, Technology and Global Security Working Group, stated in a Sept. 14 post on the Web site armscontrolwonk.com that he obtained "internal secret Iranian documents" showing how several countries are helping Tehran develop missiles or are providing technology for them.

"If my understanding is correct, they indicate that representatives from North Korea and China have been present at all phases of production and flight testing," Mr. Forden stated. "Iran has also gotten important help from Russia, though Russians do not appear to have been as ubiquitous as the Chinese and the North Koreans."

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Previous Post: Secret Iranian Missile Memos

My Comment: I posted a comment at Arms Control Wonk on the day that he published his post that outlines my doubts that the Russians were helping the Iranians in their missile program. The Russians have too much to lose, including any hope of convincing the Americans to abandon their anti-missile program in Europe if it became public that they were involved in helping the Iranians. I also remarked that if there was Russian assistance, it would be coming through backdoor channels or a former Soviet Republic.

Since that posting, and with the main stream media now looking at the story more seriously, I further investigated through my Russian contacts on the idea that maybe this was a covert Russian program. All my contacts said the same thing .... no. The Russian Government has no interest to assist or boost Iran's WMD program. Russian officials have already been burned by slow Iranian payment for services rendered in the construction of their nuclear plant ..... they do not have the stomach to repeat the same story on missile technology.

However .... one of my sources thinks that if the Iranians are getting Russian missile tech it is probably coming from either Belarus or the Ukraine, and from a non-government enterprise. This is just one source .... and he himself is speculating .... but if true one can then argue that Iran is indeed getting assistance from Russian professionals, and we in the West must put Russia on guard for not properly supervising their technology.

As to the Chinese .... I am 99% sure that they are providing some form of assistance. They have been consistently reckless when it comes to WMD systems .... selling and/or demanding quid pro quos for any service or product that is exchanged. Their assistance in Pakistan's nuclear bomb program has been particularly galling .... so if they were willing to do that .... missile tech is just one more product to sell.

Secret Iranian Missile Memos

The Mullahs' Missile: Iranian clerics watch a test of a Shahab-3 ballistic missile, with a 2,000 km range, in the desert outside Qom, Iran. AFP-Getty Images

From Arms Control Wonk:

I have been given access to a series of what appeared to be internal secret Iranian documents by sources I trust. If authentic, and I believe they are, they provide important insights into Iran’s missile development program and have important implications for North Korea’s as well. Unfortunately, to protect my sources and the Iranians who spirited these documents out to the West, I cannot be too explicit about their contents. The following examination of these memos contains both information from and my analysis of them. I have tried to explicitly point out what is my speculation.

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My Comment: A fascinating read on Iran's missile program. I do not know if the information is accurate or not .... but if true, the implications would/are troubling for all.

It is a long post, but I found it easy to read and even easier to understand. If this is a topic that interests you .... read it all and comment at Arms Control Wonk.

Advances In Iranian Misile Technology Is Starting To Worry Some In Israel And Europe

Iran Missile Said To Pose Europe Threat In 3-4 Years -- Reuters

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama (Reuters) - Iran could have the ability to strike most of Europe with a ballistic missile within three or four years if it made an all-out push, the former head of Israel's missile defense program said on Thursday.

If correct, the timeline cited by Uzi Rubin, a leading authority on Iran's program, puts a fresh note of urgency into a diplomatically thorny debate over building a multibillion-dollar anti-missile shield in Europe.

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My Comment: A lot of ifs and maybe's in this article. I am sure that if Iran does a full court press to develop its missile technology, they may be able to accomplish something in a few years. But at the moment, it seems that the Iranians have far more pressing problems at home than to be concerned about having a missile that can strike Sweden.