Iran proved it now possesses the technology to build intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), though further work would be required to perfect such a weapon, according to Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Iran’s move toward developing an ICBM is demonstrated by its launch of a satellite using technologies similar to those in an ICBM, Cartwright said.
His comments come as President Obama and a Democratic-led Congress are about to decide the fate of the planned European Missile Defense system, designed to protect Europe and the United States from nuclear-tipped Iranian missiles.
After Iran two weeks ago launched the satellite, the craft 30 minutes later was over the United States. (Please see Space & Missile Defense Report, Monday, Feb. 9, 2009.)
“The space launch that occurred — a space program and the technologies associated with a space program are technologies that are compatible with/commensurate with an intercontinental ballistic missile-type capability,” Cartwright said.
Until that launch two weeks ago, U.S. intelligence estimated that it would be two to three years before Iran would develop missiles capable of reaching Europe and Russia, much less the United States. (Please see Space & Missile Defense Report, Monday, Feb. 2, 2009.)
The Iranian space shot, Cartwright told reporters at the Pentagon, is a serious matter for concern.
“We have to worry about the transfer of that technology or the use of that technology for ballistic-missile-type capabilities that in range could basically range the United States and many of the European allies and the regional partners that we have,” he said. “So you have to be concerned about that.”
Iran also has launched multiple short- and medium-range missiles in a salvo test, and launched a missile from a submerged submarine.
The Iranian missile-launch of the satellite comes as Iran continues to defy world opinion, persisting in its nuclear materials production program.
While Iran claims it is producing the materials to power an electrical generating plant, Western leaders fear the fissile materials will be used to construct nuclear bombs. Tehran already has produced sufficient material for one weapon, and will have enough to make several nuclear bombs by the end of this year, experts estimate.
They also are concerned by remarks of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who said that Israel should be wiped off the map, and that Israel soon shall cease to exist.
To be sure, Iran doesn’t yet have an advanced ICBM. And after it produces an initial nuclear device, there would be the difficult added step of miniaturizing it so that a nuclear weapon could be fitted atop an ICBM, Cartwright noted.
“That’s not an automatic” development once the first nuclear weapon is built, he said. “It doesn’t happen in a day or two. And the work that they have done thus far is, at best, rudimentary — very low orbit, very minimal energy to get up there.’
Still, Cartwright takes small comfort in the fact that Iran apparently has mastered only the basics, not the further advanced sophisticated technology needed to build nuclear- tipped ICBMs that could threaten U.S. and European cities.
“This is not a long- range missile, but it is the path toward that, so we have to worry about that,” Cartwright said.