Скачать или смотреть USA: US CONFIRMS THAT IRAN TESTED A NEW MEDIUM RANGE MISSILE

(24 Jul 1998) English/Nat

It looks like a test by Iran of a new medium-range missile earlier this week may not have gone smoothly.

U-S officials have confirmed that Iran tested the missile - but they say the rocket blew up when it was well into its flight.

It's thought the missile may have been detonated on purpose after Iranian controllers were satisfied with its performance.

However, some analysts believe the rocket may actually have blown up accidentally.

United States intelligence agencies detected the test early on Wednesday, tracking the launch and path of the medium-range Shahab-3 missile.

Officials said the rocket had a range of about 800 miles (13-hundred kilometres), meaning it could hit Israel or Saudi Arabia and U-S forces in the Middle East.

However, the rocket blew up in the latter stages of its flight.

U-S officials believe the rocket was either detonated on purpose or blew up accidentally.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We've been following this for some time and we knew that Iran were attempting develop this capability - it's just a test but obviously if they were to develop an enemy range missile it could change the regional stability dynamics in the Middle East and that's why we've worked so hard with North Korea and others to try to get them not to transfer missile to Iran. If we do continue to have an open relation because the new president seems more open to it, obviously this is one of the things that I would raise with him. We've been very concerned about this and we believe the future of the Middle East would be better if they'd invest more money, all those countries, in something other than military technology. So we're concerned about it but not surprised by it."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, United States President

In either case, the rocket travelled far enough to convince U-S intelligence of its medium- range capability.

SOUNDBITE:(English)
"Once the missile, the Shahab 3 is made operational, Iran will have the ability to strike more distant targets including Israel, portions of Russia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia and at that point would therefore have an impact and a significance strategically."
SUPER CAPTION: James Rubin, State Department spokesman

There was no immediate information on the location of the launch or landing, both of which occurred inside Iran.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"What this incident shows is that the proliferation of ballistic missiles by Iran as well as other countries is a matter of concern not just to the U-S but to many countries in the world. Basically other countries are threatened by this if they develop a capability if they continue with this programme."
SUPER CAPTION: Ken Bacon, Pentagon spokesman

The missile is believed to be similar to a weapon first tested by North Korea in
1993 and that country doesn't conceal the fact it's selling missiles to get hard currency.

White House spokesman Mike McCurry - who on Thursday announced he would leave his job in September - also commented on the missile crisis.

In what could be one of his final appearances, he said the test was of significant concern.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"For sometime the United States has said one of our greatest concerns, among our chief concerns in that region are policies of the government of Iran that work against the interests of peace and stability in that region."
SUPER CAPTION: Mike McCurry, White House spokesman

Israel has repeatedly expressed concern over the Iranian missile programme, saying it is as much a threat to Iran's neighbours as to Israel.

SOUNDBITE:(English)



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