Report: Syria agrees to hide Iran
nukes
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
LONDON Syria has signed a pledge to store Iranian nuclear weapons
and missiles.
The London-based Jane's Defence Weekly reported that Iran and Syria
signed a strategic accord meant to protect either country from
international pressure regarding their weapons programs. The
magazine, citing diplomatic sources, said Syria agreed to store
Iranian materials and weapons should Teheran come under United
Nations sanctions.
Iran also pledged to grant haven to any Syrian intelligence officer
indicted by the UN or Lebanon. Five Syrian officers have been
questioned by the UN regarding the Hariri assassination, Middle
East Newsline reported.
"The sensitive chapter in the accord includes Syria's commitment to
allow Iran to safely store weapons, sensitive equipment or even
hazardous materials on Syrian soil should Iran need such help in a
time of crisis," Jane's said.
The accord also obligated Syria to continue to supply the
Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah with weapons, ammunition and
communications. Iran has been the leading weapons supplier to
Hizbullah, with about 15,000 missiles and rockets along the
Israeli-Lebanese border.
The accord, negotiations of which began in 2004, was signed on Nov.
14 and meant to prepare for economic sanctions imposed on either
Iran or Syria. Under the accord, Jane's said, Iran would relay
financial aid to Syria in an effort to ease Western sanctions in
wake of the UN determination that Damascus was responsible for the
assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Iran also pledged to supply a range of military aid to Syria.
Jane's cited technology for weapons of mass destruction as well as
conventional arms, ammunition and training of Syrian
military.
Teheran would seek to upgrade Syrian ballistic missiles and
chemical weapons systems. Under the accord, Iran would also be
prepared to operate "advanced weapon systems in Syria during a
military confrontation." Jane's said.
"The new strategic accord is based on the existing military MoUs,
with the addition of the sensitive chapter dealing with cooperation
in times of international sanctions or military conflict," Jane's
reported.