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UN Report Cites 2 Unreported Long-Range Iranian Missile Launches

June 17, 2011

The United Nations Panel of Experts report on Iran contains information about two previously unreported missile tests by Iran of long-range (approximately 2,000 km) ballistic Sejil/Ashura and Sejil-1 or -2 missiles. The panel does not state that the launches were successful or why the launches were not publicly reported. These launches suggest that the public may be getting only part of the picture of Iran’s long range missile program. The panel cites International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in noting that Iran is the only country in the world to have “developed a missile with the Sejil’s capability, in terms of range and payload, without first having developed a nuclear weapon.”

UN resolution 1929 (2010) states that Iran “shall not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches that use ballistic missile technology…” Iran launched ballistic missiles on six occasions after the passage of UN resolution 1929, four of which were publicly reported by the media, Iran, or other countries. The unreported test launches were reported to the panel by a member state. According to the UN report, the unreported Sejil/Ashura test launch took place in October 2010, and the unreported Sejil-1 or -2 launch occurred in February 2011. Iran also tested in February 2011 its nuclear-capable ballistic missile, Shahab-3, with a range of 900 km. The panel also writes that the Sejil-2 is believed to be a nuclear-capable ballistic missile.