Iran’s Arsenal and Arms Support for Terrorist Groups

17.02.2009

Contact: Diana Gregor  +43-(1) 650 7853 534   diana.gregor@realite-eu.org

Iran’s Arsenal and Arms Support for Terrorist Groups

 

Iran's arsenal consists of a variety of artillery rockets, including the Shahin, Oghab, Fajr, Naze'at and Zelzal. Iran produces a number of rockets domestically, using components originating in China and Russian, including the Haseb, Noor and Arash rockets and is currently focusing on constructing medium range ballistic missiles with ranges of up to 1000 km. [1]

• On February 3, 2009, Iran claimed to have “broken into the global space race after launching the country’s first domestically produced satellite into orbit.” [2] Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered the launching of the satellite called “Omid” (Hope) on a domestically produced Safir 2 rocket. Western powers condemned the move. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the launch a “worrying development and a disturbing sign”. He added that the launch showed “once again the technical achievements that Iran is obviously capable of and the threats.” [3] The launch added to US concerns over Iran’s nuclear program. The satellite launch was timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overturned the former US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. [4] It came as US officials said that Tehran continues to ship arms to military allies in the Middle East and provides equipment for long-range missile development. [5] The new U.S. administration is willing to talk to Iran “without preconditions” and said it was ready to “talk to our foes and friends”, which marks a significant shift in diplomatic approach asthe Bush administration was willing to talk to Iran only if the Islamic Republic stopped its nuclear program. [6]

• On November 12, 2008, Iran announced it has “successfully tested a new-long-range surface-to-surface missile”, known as Sajjil (a high-speed solid-fuel missile) that is “capable of hitting targets in Europe. [7] The Iranian news service PressTV described the missile as a “deterrent”. [8]

• On July 9, 2008, Iran successfully test-fired the long range Shahab-3 missile during  naval war games in Persian Gulf waters. The missile, weighing 1000 kg, was called„Payambar-e A'zam III“, meaning  “The Great Prophet III”. The Shahab-3 has a range of 2000 km and is believed to be able to reach targets in Israel. [9] Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad-Ali Ja'fari, said: “The military war games have brought us dignity and proved that our military forces are in full combat readiness." [10] Two other types of missiles with shorter ranges were also fired as part of the Great Prophet III war games. [11]

Iran's state-run Arabic channel, Al-Islam, reported that Iran has many short, medium and long-range missiles, all produced by Iranian experts. [12] In August 2008, Brigadier-General Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said Iran’s defensive capabilities are now based on equipment manufactured by the IRGC. In August 2008, IRGC chief General Mohammad-Ali Jafari announced that Iran has developed a high-tech naval weapons system capable of targeting any warship within a range of 300 km from its shores. [13]


Iran’s arsenal of missiles:


• Shahab-3: It is the longest-range missile Iran has successfully tested in public. The Shahab-3 is classed as a medium range ballistic missile and is produced and developed in Iran. “The Shahab-3 has been designed to have the capability to fit a nuclear warhead on it,” said Christopher Pang, head of the Africa and Middle East program at London’s Royal United Services Institute. [14]

• Shahab-1 and Shahab-2: These are Scud-type missiles with shorter ranges than the Shahab-3. The missiles are based on North Korean and Libyan technology. Iran is thought to have up to 150 Shahb-2 missiles and 300 of the Shahab-1. These earlier versions of the Shahab missile are smaller and carry lighter fuel and payloads than the Shahab-3. The current Iranian Scud missiles have a maximum range of 500 km. [15]

• Zelzal: This is a shorter-range missile said to be capable of hitting targets up to about 400 km away. [16]

• Fateh: This type of missile has an even shorter range than the Zelzal, of up to 170 km. [17]


Hizballah

All of Hizballah’s policies and activities are coordinated with the leadership of Iran, including the firing of rockets for which direct Iranian approval is required, Sheikh Naim Qassem, deputy chief of Hizballah, said in May 2007. “Hizballah relied and relies still in its Islamic religious position, which has to do with its activity in general and its jihadist activity in particular, on the decision of (Khamenei). The ruling jurisprudent is the one who allows and the one who prohibits.” [18]

According to Western and Israeli officials as well as the Lebanon-based Shiite Muslim group itself, Hizballah has rearmed and is stronger than before its war with Israel in 2006. Western and Israeli officials accuse Iran (and Syria) of smuggling thousands of short-range rockets as well as missiles into Lebanon in violation of a U.N. arms embargo. The U.S. government, which has designated Hizballah a terrorist group, accuses Iran of providing arms, training and millions of dollars. [19]

Thousands of young men have left their villages for military training in Iran. Up to 300 men are taken to Beirut en route to Tehran each month (the operation has been in existence since November 2006). In all, as many as 4,500 Hizballah members have been sent for three-month sessions of live-fire ammunition and rocket exercises to create a nucleus of Iranian-trained guerillas. [20]

The mainstay of Hizballah’s rocket force consists of artillery rockets known as “Katyusha”. Because of they have no guidance system, Katyushas have the greatest effect when launched in concentrated numbers. [21]

Hizballah may also have acquired longer-range missiles. Most of these are believed to be Iranian-manufactured systems like the Fajr-3, with a 45 km range, and the Fajr-5, with a 75 km range. Hizballah is also believed to have the more potent Zelzal-2. [22]

Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad

In September 2008, a Palestinian official said that Iran provides support to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. [23] On October 1, 2008, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that Iran will stand beside the Hamas government in Gaza. Khamenei called Hamas’ Prime minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, a “mujahed”, or holy warrior, saying “the Iranian nation will never let you be alone”. [24]

In March 2008, a Hamas commander for the first time confirmed that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been training its men in Tehran for more than two years. He said that Hamas had been sending fighters to Iran for training in both field tactics and weapons technology. According to the commander, a further 650 Hamas fighters have trained in Syria under instructors who learned their techniques in Iran. But what Hamas values most is the knowledge that comes directly from Iran. [25]

________________________________________________________________                                   

References:

[1] “Iranian Artillery Rcokets”, GlobalSecurity.org, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/mrl-iran.htm

[2] Tait, Robert: “Iran launches first domestically produced satellite”, The Guardian Online, February 3, 2009, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/03/iran-satellite-launch-omid
“Clinton Calls for German Help in Afghanistan”, Deutsche Welle Online, February 3, 2009, http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4000396,00.html

[3] “Clinton Calls for German Help in Afghanistan”, Deutsche Welle Online, February 3, 2009, http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4000396,00.html

[4] “US concern over launch over Iranian satellite”, Reuters, February 4, 2009, http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0204/1233713216945.html

[5] Cummins, Chip; Taghavi, Roshanak; Solomon, Jay: “Iran’s Report of Satellite Launch Stirs U.S. Concern”, The Wall Street Journal, February 4, 2009, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123365272323343065.html

[6] Borger, Julian: “President Barack Obama willing to negotiate with Iran ‚without preconditions’”, The Guardian Online, January 21, 2009, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/21/barack-obama-iran-negotiations

[7] “Iran tests new long-range missile”, BBC Online, November 13, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7725951.stm

[8] “Iran test-fires new missile”, Reuters, November 12, 2008, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-testfires-new-missile-1013972.html

[9] “Iran test-fires long range missile”, IRNA, July 9, 2008, http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0807093136122440.htm

[10] IRGC commander: Armes forces in full combat readiness”, IRNA, July 10, 2008, http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0807104917193005.htm

[11] “Iran sends missile test warning”, BBC Online, July 9, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7496765.stm

[12] “Iran test-fires long range missile”, IRNA, July 9, 2008, http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-17/0807093136122440.htm

[13] “Iran to give details of new weapons”, PressTV, August 11, 2008, http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=175083

[14] “Iran’s arsenal of missiles”, BBC Online, July 10, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7499601.stm

[15] “Iran’s arsenal of missiles”, BBC Online, July 10, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7499601.stm

[16] “Iran’s arsenal of missiles”, BBC Online, July 10, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7499601.stm

[17] “Iran’s arsenal of missiles”, BBC Online, July 10, 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7499601.stm

[18] Klein, Aaron: “Hezbollah: Rockets fired into Israel directed by Iran”, WorldNetDaily, May 7, 2008, http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55572

[19] Rotella, Sebastian: “Hezbollah arms stockpile bigger & deadlier in Lebanon”, YaLibnan, May 4, 2008, http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2008/05/hezbollah_arms.php

[20] Fisk, Robert: “Hizbollah turns to Iran for new weapons to wage war on Israel”, The Independent, April 8, 2008, http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/hizbollah-turns-to-iran-for-new-weapons-to-wage-war-on-israel-805763.html

[21] “Hezbollah’s rocket force”, BBC Online, July 18, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5187974.stm

[22] “Hezbollah’s rocket force”, BBC Online, July 18, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5187974.stm

[23] “Palestinian official says Iran supports Hamas and Islamic Jihad”, Xinhua, September 6, 2008, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/06/content_9808258.htm

[24] “Khamenei: Iran won’t let Palestinians be alone”, Associated Press, Ocotber 1, 2008, http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/01/news/ML-Iran-Palestinians.php

[25] Colvin, Marie: “Hamas wages Iran’s proxy war on Israel”, Times Online, March 9, 2008, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3512014.ece