Iran

Panel Cites 'Tipping Point' On Nuclear Proliferation

Greg Schnippel — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:09:38 -0800

The development of nuclear arsenals by both Iran and North Korea could lead to "a cascade of proliferation," making it more probable that terrorists could get their hands on an atomic weapon, according to an interim report from the U.S. Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States.

Official Stands by Iran Nuke Report

Greg Schnippel — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:14:14 -0800

Thomas Fingar, the recently retired No. 2 U.S. intelligence official, defended a controversial year-old estimate on Iran, saying he stood by its conclusion that Iran suspended a nuclear-weapons program in 2003.

Iran Nears Nuclear Break-Out Capability, Report Says

Greg Schnippel — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:32:31 -0800

Recent reports that Iran had enough material in its stocks of low-enriched uranium to build a nuclear weapon were premature, but Tehran is nevertheless only months away from that position if it continues to enrich at its 2009 rate, according to analysis from the Institute for Science and International Security.

What a Single Nuclear Warhead Could Do

Greg Schnippel — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:06:00 -0800

The author warns that a single Iranian nuclear missile could be strategically launched over a dense population and economic center in a way that would devastate the U.S. economically and strategically. He argues for multi-layered space-based missile defense as the most robust solution.

Israel Developing Nuke-Hunting Drone

Greg Schnippel — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:38:24 -0800

The Israeli military is working on "a high-flying, long-endurance unmanned infrared sensor" that can tell the difference between nuclear warheads amid dozens of decoys sent to confound national missile defenses and would mark the first use of an unmanned platform for nuclear warhead hunting.

New Beltway Debate: What to Do About Iran

Greg Schnippel — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:38:53 -0800

It is a frightening notion, but it is not just the trigger-happy Bush administration discussing -- if only theoretically -- the possibility of military action to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

Iran Has Potential WMD Capabilities, Reports Say

Greg Schnippel — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:03:56 -0700

Iran's growing industrial and medical capabilities could enable the country to produce chemical or biological weapons if it chose to do so, security expert Anthony Cordesman said in two draft reports released this month.

Iranian Nukes: Too Deep to Hit

Greg Schnippel — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:18:18 -0700

Western intelligence experts believe that Iran's nuclear facilities are so deep underground that it would be difficult for Israel to wipe them out, or even significantly damage them, with a quick airstrike.

Iran to Launch Satellite With Own Rocket to Space

Greg Schnippel — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:19:21 -0700

Iran plans to launch a satellite into space soon using an Iranian-made rocket, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.
iran missiles

Iran has in the past launched satellites using rockets built by other nations, but this was the first announcement of such a launch with an all-Iranian made rocket.

Ahmadinejad said the rocket will have 16 engines and will take a satellite some 430 miles into space, according to a state television report Thursday.

Iran Plans to Launch Humans into Space

Greg Schnippel — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:36:28 -0700

Iran plans to send a crewed rocket into space in the next 10 years, state television said on Thursday, just days after the Islamic Republic announced it had put a dummy satellite into orbit.

"One of the aims of Iran's 10-year space programme is to send a manned rocket into space," state television quoted Reza Taghipour, the head of Iran's aerospace organisation, as saying. "Within the next six months to one year, the exact date of this mission will be determined."