DATE=7/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235936
TITLE=IRAN MISSILE TEST - L (UPDATE)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY IRAN'S RECENT TEST OF A MEDIUM 
RANGE MISSILE IS A 'WORRISOME' DEVELOPMENT.  BUT V-O-A'S JIM 
RANDLE REPORTS OFFICIALS DENY THE TEST MEANS WASHINGTON'S EFFORT 
TO STOP THE SPREAD OF MISSILE TECHNOLOGY IS A FAILURE.  

TEXT:  PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS IRAN TESTED A NEW, 
LONGER RANGE MISSILE WEDNESDAY.  HE SAYS THE WEAPON COULD REACH 
ISRAEL, SAUDI ARABIA, TURKEY, THE SUEZ CANAL, PARTS OF RUSSIA, 
AND U-S FORCES IN THE PERSIAN GULF.

THE MISSILE IS CALLED THE 'SHAHAB-3,' AND IS BELIEVED TO BE A 
DERIVATIVE OF THE NORTH KOREAN 'NO DONG' MISSILE. 

                        /// BACON ACT ///

         IT'S A WORRISOME DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT DOES REPRESENT 
         AN EFFORT BY THEM TO EXPAND THE RANGE OF THEIR MISSILES.
         PREVIOUSLY, MOST OF THEIR BALLISTIC MISSILE FORCE WAS 
         SCUD-B'S AND C'S WITH RANGES OF THREE TO FIVE HUNDRED 
         KILOMETERS.  THIS HAS A RANGE, THE NO DONG MISSILE HAS A
         RANGE, UP TO ABOUT 13-HUNDRED KILOMETERS. 

                        /// END ACT /// 

MR. BACON SAYS IT WILL TAKE TIME AND MORE TESTING TO CHANGE THE 
SHAHAB-3 FROM AN EXPERIMENT TO A DEPENDABLE WEAPON.  HE REFUSED 
TO SAY HOW MUCH TIME.     

U-S OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN WARNING FOR MONTHS THAT IRAN HAS AN 
'AMBITIOUS' MISSILE PROGRAM AND MIGHT ACQUIRE OR DEVELOP LONGER 
RANGE MISSILES.  EXPERTS SAY IRAN SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN HELP FROM 
CHINA AND RUSSIA AS WELL AS NORTH KOREA.  

                        /// BACON ACT ///

         WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO CIRCUMSCRIBE THAT DEVELOPMENT,
         TO STOP IT TO LIMIT IT.  WE'VE WORKED WITH RUSSIA, WE'VE
         WORKED WITH CHINA AND OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL, AND WE'LL
         CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.  

                        /// END ACT /// 

MR. BACON SAYS EFFORTS TO STOP MISSILE PROLIFERATION HAVE 
OBVIOUSLY  NOT  STOPPED EVERYTHING.  BUT MR. BACON SAYS 
WASHINGTON'S EFFORTS HAVE BROUGHT NEW EXPORT CONTROLS FROM RUSSIA
AND RESTRAINED CHINA'S EXPORTS OF MISSILE HARDWARE AND 
INFORMATION. (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/MMK

23-Jul-98 4:05 PM EDT (2005 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.