Tel Aviv: The intelligence exchange between Israel and NATO about the Iranian threat has been enhanced. Earlier this year, NATO for the first time asked Israel to get the full picture about the Iranian threat on Europe.
This is a major change after years of closing eyes and ears to the developing threat, an Israel defence source said. The source added that Israel has given NATO some intel and will be ready to share more if asked.
While galloping to the bomb, using the stalled talks about a new nuclear agreement, Iran is stepping up the development of its long range ballistic missiles to be able to hit targets in Europe. According to Israeli experts,
in early 2022 Iran claimed that it Launched Solid-Fuel Satellite Carrier Rocket into Space. In fact no rocket left the earth, but a significant static solid-fuel engine test was carried out successfully.
Since its initial tranche of arms sales to Iran during the 1980s, North Korea has cooperated closely with Iran on ballistic missile development. Although China and Iran signed a 10-year military cooperation agreement in 1991, North Korea became a major supplier of missile technology to Tehran during the 1990s.
In 1995, North Korea shipped Scud transporter-erector-launchers to Iran, and in November 1999, US intelligence investigated the transfer of 12 Nodong missile engines from North Korea to Iran.
Despite stringent UN sanctions against North Korea, which were imposed after its 2006 and 2009 nuclear tests, the North’s ballistic missile cooperation with Iran continued at a rapid pace. A May 2011 UN report revealed regular flights between North Korea and Iran, which transferred missile-related equipment. These flights were chartered by civilian airlines, such as North Korea’s Air Koryo and Iran Air, and passed through China’s airspace.
Middle Eastern sources said that Iran is still receiving missiles technologies from North Korea.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
