'Iran delivered Stinger missiles to terrorists'
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AFP
Washington, January 12, 2002
Iran purchased US-built Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and turned them over to a Lebanese-based terrorist organization, but the missiles proved defective, the New York Times reported on Saturday, citing classified intelligence reports.
The newspaper reported that Iranian agents in Afghanistan made additional attempts to purchase the advanced, shoulder-fired weapons provided to the Lebanese-based terrorist organization, the Islamic Jihad, but it was not known whether they were successful.
Stinger missiles are considered among the most lethal weapons in the US arsenal.
The classified documents obtained by the Times offer the first evidence that Iran had ever purchased the missiles, or that it had ever given them to terrorists who were considered willing to use them against American aircraft, the newspaper reported.
American analysts have long warned that terrorists might be able to get their hands on some of the missing Stinger missiles, which the Central Intelligence Agency supplied to Afghan rebels in the 1980's when they were fighting the Soviet Army.
US officials fear that terrorists could then use the weapons against American or Israeli aircraft, perhaps including passenger planes.
