4 February 2008
Iran conducts a successful test launch of the Kavoshgar-1 (Explorer-1) research rocket to inaugurate its first domestically built space center 60 km southeast of Semnan City. The Kavoshgar-1 is a variant of the single stage Shahab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missile, specifically the Shahab-3B variant with the "baby bottle" nose. According to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the launch is the "first and determined step towards an Iranian satellite."
— "Iran Launches Rocket to Commemorate New Space Center," The New York Times, 5 February 2008; Joseph Bermudez, "Iran Inaugurates Space Terminal and Launches Research Rocket," Jane's Defense Weekly, 13 February 2008; "Smoke and Mirrors- Analyzing the Iranian Missile Test," Jane's Intelligence Review, 14 March 2008.

29 June 2008
Iran has moved its Shahab-3 missiles into launch positions and targeted Israel's Dimona nuclear reactor, according to Israeli defense sources. The sources indicate that Iran is prepared to use these missiles in the event of any military strike on its nuclear facilities by Israel or the United States. According to Major-General Mohammad Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, "This country [Israel] is completely within the range of the Islamic Republic's missiles. Our missile power and capability are such that the Zionist regime - despite all its abilities - cannot confront it."
— "Iran Ready to Strike at Israel's Nuclear Heart," The Sunday Times, 29 June 2008; "Tehran Targeting Israeli Reactor," The Australian, 30 June 2008.

8-10 July 2008
Tehran conducts a series of missile tests, dubbed Payambar-e Azam-e III (Holy Prophet III), in the Strait of Hormuz. Testing includes the firing of Shahab-3, Fateh and Zelzal missiles. Iranian Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami tells an Iranian reporter that the Shahab-3 had undergone further improvements, including to its navigation and ignition systems, and featured enhanced maneuverability and reaction time. Iranian media claims that the Shahab-3 can now be launched "at night and in adverse weather conditions."
—"Report: Iran Sends Missile Test Warning," BBC News, 10 July 2008; Alex Vatanka, "Iran Launches Dual-Purpose Missiles," Jane's Intelligence Review, 18 July 2008; Lauren Gelfand, "Tensions Rise in the Wake of Iranian Missile Tests," Jane's Defense Weekly, 11 July 2008.

5 August 2008
The recent Holy Prophet III missile tests have displayed Iran's ability to close the Strait of Hormuz "easily and on an unlimited basis," according to General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp. "No vessel would be safe and would be sent to the depths." He further claims that Iran has indigenously produced a new ground-to-sea missile that is capable of traveling 180 miles.
— "Iran Threatens to Close Oil Route from Gulf," Daily Telegraph, 5 August 2008; "Iran Threatens to Close Strait of Hormuz with Missile Launch," Oil and Gas Journal, 11 August 2008; Doug Richardson, "Iran Claims New Submarine and Sea-Launch Missile Capabilities," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 1 September 2008.

16 August 2008
Iran successfully launches the Safir (Messenger) rocket into space from its new space center 60 km southeast of Semnan City. According to Reza Taghizadeh, "the firing paved the way for placing the first Iranian satellite in orbit." The Safir is based on the Shahab-3 ballistic missile and TV footage of the launch indicates that Iran has mastered the transition from first- to second-stage rocket power. Prior to this test launch, Iran had not tested a two-stage rocket system.
— "Iran Ministry Confirms Satellite Carrier Rocket," BBC News, 17 August 2008; Lauren Gelfand and Alon Ben-David, "Iranian Two-Stage SLV Passes Test Launch," Jane's Defense Weekly, 20 August 2008; Doug Richardson, "Safir Launch Paved Way for Placing Iranian Satellite in Space," Jane's Missiles & Rockets, 1 September 2008.

1 September 2008
Russia may proceed with plans to deliver the S-300 missile defense system to Iran by the end of 2008. According to Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, Russia has agreed to deliver to Iran an unspecified number of advanced S-300 air defense complexes under a previously signed contract.
— "U.S. Fears Russian Missiles in Iran," The Jerusalem Post, 1 September 2008; "Russia may push forward with S-300 Sales to Iran," Russian News and Information Agency Novosti, 1 September 2008.

8 September 2008
Iran's armed forces begin a three day exercise to test air and missile defenses. Participating in the exercise are both the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp and regular military units. According to the Iran Daily the aim is to maintain and upgrade the combat readiness of relevant units as well as to "test new weapons and defense plans."
— "Report: Iran to Hold Three Day War Game," Reuters, 7 September 2008; "Army- IRGC Drills Begin," Iran Daily, 8 September 2008.

16 September 2008
Herman Nackaerts, head of Middle East Monitoring for the IAEA, shows pictures and diagrams to IAEA representatives of Iran’s retrofits to the Shahab-3 missile. The retrofits would enable the missile to carry a nuclear warhead. Mohamed El-Baradei calls the information "very credible" and has asked Iran for a "political explanation." Iran’s representative to the IAEA Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh calls the diagrams and pictures baseless and ridiculous.
—"Envoy says Linking Iran Nuclear Activities and Missile Program Baseless," BBC Monitoring Middle East, 17 September 2008; "Iran says IAEA Photos are Forgeries," BBC Monitoring Middle East, 17 September 2008; "Iran not to take single step beyond commitments –Soltaniyeh," Islamic Republic News Agency, 18 September 2008.

21 September 2008
Iran displays a variety of Shahab-3 missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles during the annual Holy Defense Military Parade. The parade is held to commemorate the twenty-eighth anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war.
—"Iranian Military Parade to Showcase Weaponry at Khomeyni Mausoleum," BBC Monitoring Middle East, 19 September 2008; "Sacred Defense Week Kicks off with Inaugural Parade," Islamic Republic News Agency, 21 September 2008.

24 September 2008
President Ahmadinejad announces Iran will soon launch a sixteen-engine-rocket capable of carrying satellites into space. No details are given about what type of satellite the rocket will carry or when the launch will take place.
—"Iran will soon Launch 16-Engine-Rocket," BBC Monitoring Middle East, 25 September 2008; "Iran to Launch Satellite with own Rocket to Space," Fars News Agency, 26 September 2008.

7 October 2008
Brigadier General Esma'il Ahmadi-Moqaddam says that ninety-five percent of the engineering, construction and fabrication of Iran's missiles is carried out by Iranian experts. According to Ahmadi-Moqaddam, "There were days when we had to beg the Koreans and other countries for a long time to receive parts for our missiles. Fortunately today, all of those countries depend on us in the missile industry."
—"Iranian Police Commander: 95 Percent of Missiles Made in Iran," Iranian Students News Agency, 7 October 2008.

8 October 2008
Russia's Foreign Ministry states that Moscow will not sell Iran advanced S-300 missile systems. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko says, "we have declared more than once at the very highest political level that we do not intend to supply those types of armaments to countries located in regions that are, to put it mildly, uneasy." The Russian statement comes on the heels of a visit to Moscow by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who raised the issue of the S-300 sale.
—"Russia Indicates no S-300's for Iran," The Associated Press, 8 October 2008; "No Russian Game Changer Sold to Iran: Moscow," Tehran Times, 9 October 2008.

18 October 2008
The Iranian Air Force tests several surface-to-air missiles during the first stage of the Fadayan-e Harim-e Velayat (Devotees of Guardianship) military exercise. Iranian F-14's, F-4's and F-5's hit land targets with smart missiles during the second stage of the exercises.
—"Iranian Air Force Hold Second Stage of Exercise in Tabriz," BBC Monitoring Trans Caucasus Unit, 18 October 2008.

1 November 2008
The Wall Street Journal reports that in August 2008, the United States persuaded India to deny clearance to a North Korean jet traveling to Iran. U.S. officials suspected that the North Korean plane was carrying sophisticated and sensitive missile components. The jet stopped in Burma on 7 August 2008 and sought permission to cross Indian airspace in order to reach Iran. India is not part of the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), but U.S. officials say that New Delhi agreed to the U.S. request.
—Jay Solomon, Krishna Pokharel, Peter Wonacott, "North Korean Plane was Grounded at U.S. Request," The Wall Street Journal, 1 November 2008; Glenn Kessler, "U.S. Efforts Divert Iran Bound Cargo," The Washington Post, 4 November 2008.

	Updated November 2008