The US offers Russia greater opportunity to launch foreign satellites in return for cessation of missile technology sales to Iran.
The "New York Times" reported this morning that the US is offering Russia greater opportunity to launch foreign satellites in return for Moscow’s agreement to cease sales of missile technology to Iran.
Indicated in the US offer is the possibility of hundreds of millions of dollars profit to Russian firms, as well as Western firms, who will co-operate in launching satellites. The major share of this market is now in the hands of the US. Washington has already signed an agreement with Moscow that permits Russian participation in tenders to launch a limited number of US satellites. The opening of the American tap is likely to give a substantial boost to the Russian space industry.
US intelligence experts are expecting Iran to make the first test launch of the Shihab 3 missile with a range of almost 1,300 km that can reach Israel. The missile is based on North Korean technology, but the US fears the flow of Russian missile technology to Iran.
Published by Israel's Business Arena March 9, 1998