DATE=7/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235912
TITLE=U-S / IRAN MISSILE (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS IRAN'S TEST LAUNCH OF A MEDIUM-RANGE
BALLISTIC MISSILE IS A SOURCE OF CONCERN TO THE UNITED STATES BUT
DOES  NOT  NECESSARILY AFFECT THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE 
EAST.  VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY IRAN'S TEST OF THE 
NORTH-KOREAN-DESIGNED MISSILE CAME CAME AS  NO  SURPRISE, AND 
THAT U-S INTELLIGENCE DETECTED THE LAUNCH AND TRACKED THE FLIGHT,
WHICH OCCURRED EARLIER THIS WEEK AND ENTIRELY INSIDE IRANIAN 
TERRITORY.

IN A RELATIVELY LOW-KEY RESPONSE TO THE DEVELOPMENT, WHITE HOUSE 
SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID IRAN'S PURSUIT OF A MEDIUM-RANGE 
MISSILE CAPABILITY IS A "SOURCE OF CONCERN" TO THE UNITED STATES.

BUT HE SAID A SINGLE TEST DOES  NOT  ALTER THE BALANCE OF POWER 
IN THE REGION. NOR HE SAID, DOES IT AFFECT WHAT HAS BEEN A 
LIMITED WARMING OF U-S IRANIAN RELATIONS -- SINCE, HE SAID, 
IRAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM, ALONG WITH ITS SUPPORT OF TERRORISM AND 
OPPOSITION TO THE MIDDLE EAST PROCESS HAVE BEEN IMPEDIMENTS TO 
THAT PROCESS ALL ALONG.

THOUGH THE UNITED STATES HAVE HAD  NO  DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS FOR 
NEARLY  20 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN LIMITED GESTURES OF GOODWILL 
INCLUDING SPORTS CONTACTS SINCE LATE LAST YEAR WHEN IRANIAN 
PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI CALLED FOR GREATER DIALOGUE BETWEEN 
THE TWO PEOPLES.

SPOKESMAN MCCURRY SAID THE IRANIAN MISSILE -- CALLED THE "SHAHAB 
THREE" -- APPEARS TO BE NEARLY IDENTICAL TO NORTH KOREA'S MEDIUM 
RANGE "NODONG" MISSILE WHICH PYONGYANG HAS HAD IN ITS ARSENAL FOR
SEVERAL YEARS.

HE SAID THE TEST UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF AGGRESSIVELY 
PURSUING ANTI-PROLIFERATION EFFORTS WORLDWIDE, ESPECIALLY WITH 
REGARD TO NORTH KOREA -- WHICH HE SAID HAS STATED PLAINLY IT IS 
SELLING SUCH MISSILES TO GET HARD CURRENCY.

HE SAID IRAN'S MISSILE EFFORT IS ONE REASON THE UNITED STATES HAS
BEEN SO INSISTENT THAT RUSSIA CURBS ITS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO 
IRAN AND WHY THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RAISED SIMILAR CONCERNS WITH 
ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES.

U-S OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO SAID IRAN IS TRYING TO DEVELOP A NUCLEAR 
CAPABILITY, BUT IS BELIEVED TO BE YEARS AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO 
BUILD AND TEST SUCH A WEAPON  (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/LTD/KL

23-Jul-98 11:35 AM EDT (1535 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.