U.S. Detects Iran Work on Missiles

The United States this weekend detected preparations by Iran to make its Chinese-made, Silkworm anti-ship missiles operational in the Persian Gulf, Pentagon officials said Sunday.

The officials, who declined to be named, would not discuss how the activity was detected. However, it is known that U.S. satellites keep track of the Silkworm locations, which are believed to be at the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the southern end of the gulf.

On Saturday, gulf-based marine salvage executives also reported that some of the missiles had been installed on launchers, making them fully operational. They said they were told of the deployment by their radio monitors. The missiles reportedly were test-fired in the area in February.

Last month, White House Chief of Staff Howard H. Baker Jr. warned that the United States would consider deployment of the missiles to be a hostile act that would “run the risk of retaliation.” However, he declined to say whether a preemptive attack on the missile sites is being considered.

The Silkworm has a range of about 60 miles and carries a 1,000-pound warhead, which could be lethal to an oil tanker. Both Iran and Iraq have attacked commercial ships in the gulf during their 6 1/2-year-old war.