Iran has been developing a range of missiles, the most advanced of which could cross a distance of 5,000 kilometers, a leading US federal lawmaker claimed on Thursday.
Rep. Curt Weldon, a Republican from Pennsylvania, told the Middle East Newslink (MENL) that Iran was obtaining help from North Korea and Russia to complete a range of intermediate- and long-range missiles. These include such missiles as the Shihab-3, Shihab-4 and Shihab-5.
"Iran has been working on a system, Shihab-3, Shihab-4 and Shihab-5, which now possesses the capability of sending a missile about 2,500 kilometers," Weldon said. "That covers a good part of Europe. Iran is also working on a missile system called the Shihab-5. That system will have a range, we think, of 5,000 kilometers. Iran's goal is to develop a long-range missile to eventually hit the US."
US officials have discussed the development of the Shihab-3 and Shihab-4. But officials and many experts had dismissed the Shihab-5 as an unfeasible program, according to MENL.
Weldon said that Moscow -- which is helping Iran's missile programs -- has been marketing missile defense systems to Israel, a target of Teheran. He said Russia has tried to sell Greece and Israel the Antei-2500 system. The system has also been marketed in the Gulf, the lawmaker said -Albawaba.com
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