Subordinate to: Defense Industries Organization (DIO)

Other Name: Esfahan

Location: Latitude 32° 39' North; longitude 51° 04' East; 337km south of Tehran; facility of the city of Isfahan

Primary Function: Production and assembly of artillery rockets, munitions, and missile components; production of solid and liquid missile fuel; production and/or assembly of Scud-B (Shehab 1) and Scud-C (Shehab 2) and Nodong (Shehab 3) missiles; M-7, M-9, and M-11 surface-to-surface (SSM) and surface-to-air (SAM) missiles; Zelzal, Nazeat, Silkworm (HY-1 or HY-2 unspecified), HQ-2 missiles; Russian-built SS-4 missile components; fitting of chemical warheads; research and development; monitoring of missile tests; personnel training.

Description and Activities:
Isfahan is considered to be the center of much of Iran's advanced defense industry. There are reportedly over a hundred defense-related facilities in or near Isfahan that encompass a wide range of activities. These include liquid and solid missile fuel production; artillery rocket, munitions, and missile parts production and assembly; chemical warhead fitting; research and development; missile-test monitoring; and personnel training.

Reports indicate that Isfahan facilities have produced and/or assembled Shehab 1 and Shehab 2 missiles; M-7 (sold by the export derivative name 8610 or B610 and known in Iran as the Tundar), M-9, and M-11 SSM and SAM missiles; and Zelzal, Nazeat, Silkworm, and HQ-2 missiles. Isfahan facilities are also developing Russian-built SS-4 missile components. Iran has collaborated with a variety of international partners in the development of its Isfahan facilities; including North Korea, China, Russia, the former Czechoslovakia, Romania, Israel and Sweden (the latter two have not assisted since the days of the Shah, however).

In February 1979, Soltam LTD (the Israeli Artillery System House) and Israel Military Industries signed a contract with Iran to build an arms production factory near Isfahan. In 1984, a Swedish company, Scandinavian Commodity, shipped equipment and explosives to Isfahan, including rocket fuel and tubing, where it was reported that a huge production plant was built. In June 1987, Iran and North Korea allegedly signed a $500 million agreement whereby Iran would receive 90-100 Scud missiles from North Korea. Part of this agreement included the construction of Shehab 1 and Shehab 2 (Scud-B and Scud-C) production facilities. There are reportedly approximately 100 facilities in Iran that employ several thousands of people, the largest such facility is Isfahan.

Shehab 1 and Nazeat missile production reportedly began in 1988. In 1989, Iran allegedly began negotiations with the Chinese regarding the manufacture of the Chinese short-range missile M-11. In the same year, Iran signed agreements with Romania and the former Czechoslovakia for the delivery of hundreds of tanks and missiles. The agreement with Czechoslovakia also included building a factory in Isfahan to produce antitank and anti-aircraft missiles.
China reportedly provided Iran with assistance in establishing production sites in Isfahan for HY-2 Silkworm and M-class missiles. Production of these missiles reportedly began in 1990-1991. On 11 July 1991, Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng visited various Iranian military complexes around Isfahan to observe a range of missile projects where Chinese and North Korean technicians were supposedly collaborating with Iranians.

Sources indicate than according to a 1992 agreement between Iran and North Korea, Iran invested $50-500 million in the North Korean Nodong (Iranian Shehab 3) missile project. The agreement provided that after receiving its first shipment of missiles from North Korea, Iran would pay an additional $70 million to appropriate the technology needed to build a missile factory in Isfahan -- North Korea is thought to have built the largest missile assembly plant in Iran at this location in 1992. This plant may also employ Chinese equipment and technology. It was reported in 1993 that Iran's Semnan missile facility produced five tons of nerve gas per month, which was then shipped to the main missile assembly plant at Isfahan, placed in warheads, and fitted onto Iranian-built Shehab 1's.

In late 1994, the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) reportedly began projects with Iran to train personnel for Iran's aviation industry. This included setting up a training center in Isfahan. On 6 May 1996, Iran acquired three Iraqi Al Husayn missiles to enhance production, training, and research at the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Land Force Missile & Artillery Training Center in Isfahan. Iran's Defense Industries Organization and the IRGC Self-Sufficiency Department use this center for research and production purposes, while the IRGC Land Force and Air Force train SSM and SAM crews at this location. In May 1996, two Russian missile experts and 10 Chinese artillery experts were reportedly employed as instructors at the center.

On 26 March 2001, a report alluded to two research and development facilities near Isfahan and Tehran where scientists were working with Russian SS-4 missile technology. This technology is used in the development of the Iranian Shehab 4 system, which Iran claims is a satellite-launch vehicle, despite allegations that it is a long-range missile.

Key Sources: Ronen Bergman, "Israel's Outstanding Debt to Iran Viewed," 19 March 1999; FBIS Document FTS19990319001273; "Insight: Exposed - How Tehran Beat Arms Boycott," The Times (London), 4 October 1987, via Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Case of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992); "Romania, CSSR to Supply Tanks, Missiles," Agence France Presse, 20 March 1989; in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-89-053, 21 March 1989; Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," in William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds. The International Missile Bazaar:The New Suppliers Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994); "DPRK and PRC Co-operation in the Iranian Missile Programmes," Jane's Intelligence Review, 1 April 1992, via Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Michael Rotem, "Report: Iran to Receive North Korean Missiles That Can Reach Israel," Jerusalem Post, 25 March 1993, via Lexis-Nexis Universe, <http://www.lexis-nexis/universe>; Anthony H. Cordesman, Threats and Non-Threats from Iran (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 26 January 1995); "Iran's CW Programs," Mednews, 19 April 1993; "Iran Studies Iraqi Missiles," Iran Brief, 6 May 1996; "Value of MAI's Iran Ties Balances Cost of Sanctions," Kommersant (Moscow), 20 January 1999, via FBIS, Document FTS199901120000719, 20 January 1999; David A. Fulghum, "Iran Specifies New Weapons Mix," Aviation & Space Technology, 26 March 2001; Anthony H. Cordesman, Iran and Nuclear Weapons (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 7 February 2000); Raytheon, Missile Systems of the World (USA: AMI International, 1999).

	Updated May 2004