Iran Calls Allegations of Missile Tests Untrue
Iran on Saturday dismissed allegations that it was providing test sites for North Korean long-range missiles designed to deliver nuclear warheads, its official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
A Bush administration official said last week that North Korea was getting around a self-imposed missile test ban by sharing technology information with Iran, which is allegedly carrying out missile tests on Pyongyang’s behalf.
Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani rejected the claim, saying, “Iran does not cooperate with North Korea in missile technology and it does not need to.”
President Bush has labeled Iran and North Korea as being part of an axis of evil, accusing both of pursuing nuclear weapons programs.
A leading military publication, Jane’s Defense Weekly, reported recently that North Korea was developing two new ballistic missile systems that have “appreciably expanded the ballistic-missile threat.”
Although Shamkhani denied any kind of nuclear military activity, he said his country would not leave its people without defense. “That’s why we have to invest in nuclear defense preparation,” he added without elaborating.
Washington is working with South Korea, Japan, China and Russia to negotiate an agreement with North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program.
Iran says its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.
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