New Evidence Suggests Iranian Missile Program

Metal shipments, banking activities come under US scrutiny
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 16, 2009 9:45 AM CST
New Evidence Suggests Iranian Missile Program
An Iranian flag flutters, in this image released Nov. 12, 2008 taken at an undisclosed location in Iran, beside a missile prior to the test fire by Iranian armed forces.   (AP Photo )

New evidence suggests that Iran may be evading international sanctions, importing high-performance metals that could be used to build long-range weaponry, US security and law enforcement officials tell the Wall Street Journal. One invoice shows a shipment of metals going to an Iranian company through an intermediary. UAE officials, meanwhile, have intercepted two Iran-bound shipments of other such metals from China.

The discoveries are no smoking gun—the metals also have industrial and commercial uses. “We can't say we know it would, or would not, be used for military purposes,” said one proliferation expert. But “there doesn't seem to be any real doubt or debate whether Iran is going for the bomb or whether Iran is using front companies to import things. Everyone agrees on that around the world.” (More Iran stories.)

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