Evidence suggests that Iran is operating a secret missile research facility, The New York Times reported.
The facility is operating to this day, said a team of weapons researchers who reviewed Iranian state TV and satellite imagery, the Times reported.
Evidence suggests that Gen. Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, oversaw the development of the facility in the remote Iranian desert before his death in the 2011 explosion that destroyed Iran's long-range missile facility, the newspaper noted.
Work on the facility, which often happens at nighttime, appears to focus on advanced rocket engines and rocket fuel, the Times reported.
The newspaper said the site could be used for advancing Iran's already existing medium-range missiles, or perhaps a space program, but that would not explain why the work is being conducted secretly or why the structures appear to be built to house larger missiles.
Five outside experts agreed that the evidence shows that Iran is developing long-range missile technology, the Times reported.
"The investigation highlights some potentially disturbing developments," said Michael Elleman, missile expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, who reviewed the findings.
While the evidence was circumstantial, Elleman said that it could show preliminary work on developing an ICBM "five to 10 years down the road," the Times reported.
Iran appears to be readying the possibility that its leaders could deem it necessary to build a long-range missile, the newspaper noted.
"It keeps the option open," said Dina Esfandiary, an Iran expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
"We do not comment on military matters," said Alireza Miryousefi, the press officer at Iran's United Nations mission, said in an emailed statement to The Times.
According to The Washington Post, the United States has called on allies to sanction Iran over its ballistic missile program.
"Iran's ballistic missile program is an international threat to peace and security," a senior State Department official said to reporters, the newspaper said.
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