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An Iranian opposition group has found 12 sites, not previously disclosed, where …
North Korea helping Iran grow its ballistic missile program, details revealed in report
Now Playing Walid Phares on the 'web' of Iran's influence in the Mideast
An Iranian opposition group has found 12 sites, not
previously disclosed, where the Islamic government is developing
ballistic missiles with the help of North Korean experts.
The disclosure, one of many in a lengthy and detailed report released Tuesday by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), describes how Iran’s missile program has accelerated since it signed an agreement on July 14, 2015, to limit its development of nuclear weapons. The report’s material reflects intelligence gathered by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.
“The findings show the first full picture of the missile program of the Iranian regime, which is very extensive and costly. It also shows a close tie between the nuclear weapons program and the missile program,” Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the NCRI’s U.S. office, said to Fox News.
“Tehran has accelerated its missile program [since
signing the nuclear deal] to make up for its domestic impotence and
increasing regional isolation. The missile program of the regime is
essential for its survival. Unfortunately the missile program of the
Iranian regime has remained primarily unchecked.”
The report shines a light on three key aspects of Iran’s missile program: It reveals the existence of 12 previously unknown missile developments sites; it discloses details about the sites, including locations and facilities at the sites; and it describes the partnership between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and North Korean experts.
Among the 42 missile sites -- which include the 12 newly disclosed sites -- 15 are part of a manufacturing network, another 25 are being used as missile storage sites, 13 are being used as launching sites and another eight are being used to train missile brigades, the report says.
The NCRI also documents the extent of the Tehran-Pyongyang partnership.
“North Korea has been closely aligned with Iran in developing its missile program,” Jafarzadeh said. “All of the tunnels under the mountains are built after the North Korean model. [For example] North Korean experts have been present in Al Mahdi Garrison, a key missile site allocated to missile training near Tehran.”
The NCRI’s report comes just days after Iran launched missiles at targets in Syria,
a move that Tehran said was intended to attack ISIS but which the NCRI
said was a propaganda ploy in response to growing opposition from
Iranian citizens to the missile and nuclear projects — not to combat the
Islamic State.
“The primary reason for launching these missiles was in no way ISIS,” Jafarzadeh said.
“According to many reports, the missile did not hit ISIS, but took a lot of casualties among ordinary citizens. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has tens of thousands of forces, including foreign fighters in Syria. It has built missile manufacturing sites on Syrian territory.”
“So, there was absolutely no need to fire missiles from inside Iranian territory. In the past few years, the [Revolutionary Guard] was stationed very close to ISIS in Syria, but did not even fire a single bullet against it,” Jafarzadeh said.
Perry Chiaramonte is a reporter for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @perrych
The disclosure, one of many in a lengthy and detailed report released Tuesday by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), describes how Iran’s missile program has accelerated since it signed an agreement on July 14, 2015, to limit its development of nuclear weapons. The report’s material reflects intelligence gathered by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran.
“The findings show the first full picture of the missile program of the Iranian regime, which is very extensive and costly. It also shows a close tie between the nuclear weapons program and the missile program,” Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of the NCRI’s U.S. office, said to Fox News.
Related Image
The NCRI claims that Ayatollah Khamenei tasked
the IRGC’s Aerospace Force to execute the mandate of an increase in
activity related to the missile program
(AP photo/Vahid Salemi)
The report shines a light on three key aspects of Iran’s missile program: It reveals the existence of 12 previously unknown missile developments sites; it discloses details about the sites, including locations and facilities at the sites; and it describes the partnership between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and North Korean experts.
Among the 42 missile sites -- which include the 12 newly disclosed sites -- 15 are part of a manufacturing network, another 25 are being used as missile storage sites, 13 are being used as launching sites and another eight are being used to train missile brigades, the report says.
The NCRI also documents the extent of the Tehran-Pyongyang partnership.
“North Korea has been closely aligned with Iran in developing its missile program,” Jafarzadeh said. “All of the tunnels under the mountains are built after the North Korean model. [For example] North Korean experts have been present in Al Mahdi Garrison, a key missile site allocated to missile training near Tehran.”
Related Image
In this picture released by the Iranian state-run
IRIB News Agency on Monday, June 19, 2017, a missile is fired from city
of Kermanshah in western Iran targeting the Islamic State group in
Syria. Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, a paramilitary force in
charge of the country's missile program, said it launched six Zolfaghar
ballistic missiles from the western provinces of Kermanshah and
Kurdistan. (IRIB News Agency, Morteza Fakhrinejad via AP)
“The primary reason for launching these missiles was in no way ISIS,” Jafarzadeh said.
“According to many reports, the missile did not hit ISIS, but took a lot of casualties among ordinary citizens. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has tens of thousands of forces, including foreign fighters in Syria. It has built missile manufacturing sites on Syrian territory.”
“So, there was absolutely no need to fire missiles from inside Iranian territory. In the past few years, the [Revolutionary Guard] was stationed very close to ISIS in Syria, but did not even fire a single bullet against it,” Jafarzadeh said.
Perry Chiaramonte is a reporter for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @perrych
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