German intelligence authorities believe Iran has now bought 18 longer-range missiles from Stalinist North Korea, giving Tehran the capability to attack targets in central Europe, the German daily newspaper Bild reported yesterday.
The study written by the foreign intelligence service BND said that the advanced BM-25 missiles were being purchased from Pyongyang in the form of kit sets.
The mobile missiles, which are based on the Russian SS-N-6 missile for submarine launch, will have a nominal range of 2,500km.
However it was possible to upgrade them to hit targets up to 3,500km away, the Munich-based BND said.
Iran already possesses the Shehab-3 missile that has a range of 1,300km.
Bild quoted the BND dossier as saying: "Germany and other parts of central Europe could be affected in the medium to long term by the Iranian missile program."
It added: "With longer ranges possible in the future, combined with the apparent concerted efforts to obtain nuclear warheads, Iran would be in a position to reach all of Israel and other parts of central Europe."
Incumbent Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa on Sunday claimed a runaway victory in the nation’s presidential election, after voters endorsed the young leader’s “iron fist” approach to rampant cartel violence. With more than 90 percent of the votes counted, the National Election Council said Noboa had an unassailable 12-point lead over his leftist rival Luisa Gonzalez. Official results showed Noboa with 56 percent of the vote, against Gonzalez’s 44 percent — a far bigger winning margin than expected after a virtual tie in the first round. Speaking to jubilant supporters in his hometown of Olon, the 37-year-old president claimed a “historic victory.” “A huge hug
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