According to the British-based Times-on-Line news, Iran is continuing to defy international community sanctions and now possesses technology to launch missiles into Europe, some 6,000 kilometers (3,600 miles).

Digital Globe QuickBird satellite photos actually reveal the secretive location of a missile silo, the very same location from where a Kavoshgar 1 “research rocket” was fired on February 4th of this year. The site is located 230 kilometers southeast of Tehran, according to a Jane’s Intelligence Review.

According to Jane’s editor Avital Johanan, an analysis of the satellite imagery reveals Tehran is about five years away from full development of such a long-range rocket, an opinion that compliments American intelligence community assessments.

Geoffrey Forden, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology details the photo depicts a structure approximately 40 meters in length, similar to the North Korean Taepodong long-range missile facility.

During a late February meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran was confronted with the evidence regarding the QuickBird satellite photos, but this did not prevent Iranian officials from denying the allegations.

More in line with Israeli concerns that Iran is rapidly closing in on the ‘point of no return’ regarding nuclear independence, Jane’s Intelligence Review stated the QuickBird imagery actually reveals the Kavoshgar 1 rocket is not part of the civilian space complex, but it is part-and-parcel of the secretive ongoing long-range missile program. Jane’s states closer examination of the launch site points to it being a part of a larger more sophisticated growing complex.

Adding to the worrisome report is Dr. Forden’s opinion, who points out the photos reveal Iran is indeed maximizing on North Korean assistance and technology, stating the “production and testing facility next to Kavoshgar 1 launch site would seem well positioned to contribute to the third stage,” making reference to the solid-propellant component. (Dr. Forden is a former Iraqi weapons inspector).

Taking a more conservative approach, there are also expert opinions which state the February launch of the Kavoshgar 1 did not exhibit any significant progress in Iran’s long-range missile program, perhaps just indicating Iran is likely to pursue such an avenue in the coming years.

On the other hand, just this week Iranian President Ahmed Ahmadinejad reported the nuclear program has added 6,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges, which he insists will be used only for civilian/medical purposes but the international community fears his intentions are not this honorable.

President Shimon Peres, who is credited with playing a major hand in Israel’s nuclear program, recently stated numerous times that such long-range missile technology can only have one goal, arming them with nuclear warheads.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)