Israel Reports Weapons Development in Iran, Iraq

Israel Reports Weapons Development in Iran, Iraq

NewsMax Wires
Friday, June 28, 2002

TEL AVIV, Israel -- Iran was developing a nuclear capability as well as missiles that could reach Europe and eventually the United States, the head of Israel’s intelligence agency reportedly told NATO’s council.

Israel also has "clear indications” that Iraq resumed efforts to produce fissile materials, Mossad leader Ephraim Halevy said while addressing a closed session of the council Wednesday in Brussels. The Israeli Yediot Aharonot newspaper published the full text of the speech Friday.

Halevy reportedly said several countries that have been traditional foes of Israel were developing advanced weapons systems, including Iran which in recent years has invested heavily in developing ballistic missiles based on North Korean expertise.

He noted that the Iranians successfully tested the Shehab-3, which has a range of 800 miles and announced they were trying to extend its range, payload and destructive capability.

Iran is also involved in research and development of longer-range missiles that could reach Europe and the United States and does so under cover of launching civilian satellites, he added.

The Mossad chief maintained Iran was "intensively” developing military nuclear capabilities, but would not reveal what intelligence Israel has obtained.

In recent years Israel repeatedly tried to dissuade Russia from helping Iran. The United States has raised the matter in Moscow.

Halevy said the Mossad believes Iran is developing a chemical infrastructure for civilian use, but one that could quickly be transformed into producing large quantities of deadly VX gas. The Iranians are also investing in biological warfare research and development, he reported.

Of the eve of the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq had been a few months away from producing fissile material, he continued.

There are "clear indications” Iraq resumed its nuclear efforts after the United Nations ceased inspections in 1998, Halevy said.

The Mossad has, "a reason to believe” Iraq managed to preserve some of its chemical and biological warfare capabilities. It has "partial evidence” that the Iraqis resumed production of VX and possibly anthrax germs, he added.

In the past years Syria bought and then produced North Korean Scud B, C and D missiles. Most of the warheads are conventional but the Syrians have chemical and biological capabilities as well, Halevy said.

The Syrians have produced large quantities of Sarin nerve gas, and recently have been working hard to produce VX. The gas could be dropped in bombs from planes, Scud missiles, and 220 and 302mm mortars whose range varies from 27 to 62 miles, he reported.

Libya is developing missiles with a range of more than 625 miles, which could affect Europe and Israel, he noted.

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