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Iran 'could manufacture missiles that reach U.S.'

Aya Igarashi Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

WASHINGTON--Iran could develop long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland by 2015, a high-ranking U.S. Defense Department official said Tuesday.

Eric Edelman, defense undersecretary for policy, said at a press conference at the Defense Department that Iranian missiles could already hit parts of Europe, and that their range is expected to become longer.

He also said Iran is receiving support from North Korea and Russia in missile development.

Edelman said the United States should develop a defensive ability before Iranian missiles pose a concrete threat because it takes time to deploy a missile defense system. The planned deployment of 10 interceptor missile units on land in Poland and a mobile early-warning radar, or X-band radar, system in the Czech Republic should be expedited, he said. "We think the threat is one that they [European nations] face as well as one that we face. In fact, they come within range of these missiles before we do," he said.

Russia has expressed anger over the U.S. initiative to enlarge its missile defense network in Europe, but Edelman said the United States would not let Russia "dictate what we do bilaterally with other countries."

Iran 'could manufacture missiles that reach U.S.' (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070405TDY05006.htm)