Iran not to develop long-range missiles, envoy

Moscow, Feb 15 (UNI) Iranian Ambassador to Russia Gholamreza Ansari today denied reports that his country plans to develop long-range missiles.

''Plans to launch a satellite have nothing to do with long-range missiles. We are not going to be involved in creating long-range missiles,'' Mr Ansari said in an interview to the Ekho Moskvy radio station.

Technologies that Iran would use to launch such a satellite were solely civil, he added.

Earlier, Russia had expressed serious concern over Iran's tests of Kavosghar-1 (Explorer-1) rocket, which was launched into space on February 4.

''Any movements in the area of creating such potential arms, of course make others concerned, and moreover make one suspect that Iran could possibly create nuclear weapons,'' Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said.

Long-range missiles were one of the components of a nuclear weapon system, he added.

Last Wednesday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow did not approve of Iran's constant demonstration of its intention to develop its missile sector and to continue uranium enrichment.

UNI XC SYU RK1806