[10] According to the IAEA, Iran in the early 2000s may have explored various fuzing, arming and firing systems to make the Shahab-3 more capable of reliably delivering a nuclear warhead.

[20] During the early 1990s Iran began to shift from the acquirement of ballistic missiles to their production through a well documented technological partnership with North Korea,[21] despite its denial by Iranian foreign ministry official Hassan Taherian, in February 1995.

[22][23] The main reason for this transition was to minimalise the effects of sanctions and interdictions posed by the USA, as well as military embargoes and international actions against Iran.

[9] Based on the designs of the North Korean No-Dong medium range ballistic missile, which some analysts suggest was developed with Iranian financial support, Iran manufactured the Shahab-3.

And while Iran claimed that its purpose was to deliver conventional payloads, it is more likely that it was meant to carry biological, chemical and nuclear weapons.

[24] Additionally, allegations regarding Chinese assistance in resolving the missile's final technical issues began to emerge.

Shahab-3 missiles were displayed openly in military parades, production was said to have begun at a rate of several per month and they were introduced into service.

[25] On 31 May 2005, Shamkhani declared that a new missile motor, using solid fuel technology and capable of carrying a payload of 700 kg over a distance of 1500–2000 km was successfully tested.

Some are of the opinion that they are to carry a warhead of the air-burst type, geared toward the dispersal of chemical and biological agents, while others believe it is better suited for a nuclear payload.

These launches came after some United States-led military exercises in the Persian Gulf on 30 October 2006, meant to train for blocking the transport of weapons of mass destruction.

[28] On 8 July 2008,[29] Iran test fired a non-upgraded version of the Shahab-3, as one of 9 medium- and long-range missiles launched as part of the Great Prophet III exercise.

[30] Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air and naval units conducted these tests in a desert location.

[33] A senior Republican Guard commander said Iran would maintain security in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.