Iran Gets First Ship-Based Silkworm Missiles--U.S.

WASHINGTON — A merchant ship carrying a “significant number” of a new version of Chinese anti-ship Silkworm missiles capable of being fired from Iranian warships has arrived in Iran, an Administration source said today.

The newly arrived shipment will allow Iran to fire the 50-mile range Silkworm missile from its warships for the first time, the source said.

He said missiles, and more significantly shipboard launchers, were observed being unloaded in Iran.

Land-Launched Versions

The 100 or so Silkworms Iran has received to date are land-launched versions, limited to firing at shipping in the vital Persian Gulf from the shores of Iran.

On Tuesday, Administration officials said one of two merchant ships that left North Korea in late December, believed to be carrying the Silkworms, is still en route to Iran.

But, ABC News reported Tuesday night that the ship had arrived in Iran and that the missiles were being unloaded in the gulf port of Bandar Abbas.

The Administration source, who has followed the Silkworm shipments closely, confirmed the ABC account as accurate.

An Administration official said delivery of the Silkworms would not be conclusive proof that China has broken a November promise to stop sending the missiles to Iran because they could have come from North Korean stocks.