Project Flower

In 18 July 1977, Iranian Vice Minister of War General Hassan Toufanian (died 1998) traveled to Israel and met with Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan and Minister of Defense Ezer Weizmann. Among a number of joint Israeli-Iranian military projects discussed at these meetings was "Project Flower." This project was focused on the development of a longer ranged (150-200km) and more heavily armed version of the Israeli Gabriel anti-ship missile (not as sometimes reported with the development of a ballistic missile based upon Israeli Jericho surface-to-surface missile technology). It is possible, however, that this subject was discussed, since General Toufanian apparently attended a test-launch of a Jericho missile. Also discussed at these meetings was an Iranian interest in extending Project Flower to include a future submarine launched variant and Iranian concerns over missile and nuclear developments in India and Pakistan [http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Iran/Missile/1788.html] .

The following year, Iran made a down payment for Project Flower by providing Israel with $280 million worth of oil. To support this project, a team of Iranian experts began construction of a missile assembly facility near Sirjan, in south central Iran, and a missile test range near Rafsanjan [http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Iran/Missile/1788.html] .

During February 1979, the Monarchy of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi collapsed amidst the Iranian Revolution, and along with it died Project Flower. All the Israeli engineers and those involved with the defense cooperation with Iran were flown back to Israel and all the blueprints and diagrams of the weapons systems involved were returned to Israel via a well-protected diplomatic courier [http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Iran/Missile/1788.html] .

See also

* Iranian military industry
* Military of Iran
* Iran's missile forces
* Israel Defense Forces

Sources

* http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Iran/Missile/index.html#fn1]
* http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Iran/Missile/1788.html
* Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "Iran's Missile Development," The International Missile Bazaar: the New Supplier's Network (San Francisco: Westview Press, 1994), William C. Potter and Harlan W. Jencks, eds., p. 48.
* "Minutes from Meeting Held in Tel Aviv between H. E. General M. Dayan, Foreign Minister of Israel, and H.E. General H. Toufanian, Vice Minister of War, Imperial Government of Iran," Top Secret Minutes from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 18 July 1977, in Digital National Security Archive
* Ronen Bergman, "5 billion Reasons to Talk to Iran," Haaretz (Tel Aviv), 19 March 1999