Iran unveiled a new domestically-made missile with a range of 1,450 kilometers on Wednesday, state TV reported, a day after Tehran and Washington resumed indirect talks to salvage a 2015 nuclear deal.
Iran, which has one of the biggest missile programmes in the Middle East, says its ballistic missiles have a range of up to 2,000 km and are capable of reaching its arch-foe Israel and U.S. bases in the region.
State TV displayed the new surface-to-surface “Kheibar Shekan” (Kheibar buster) missile, which refers to an ancient Jewish oasis called Kheibar in the Arabian Peninsula’s Hijaz region that was overrun by Muslim warriors in the 7th century.
“This long-range missile is domestically manufactured by the Revolutionary Guards. It has high accuracy and is propelled by solid fuel and is capable of penetrating missile shields,” Iranian state media reported.
Tehran regards its missile programme as an important deterrent against the United States, Israel and other adversaries. It has rejected Western demands to halt its ballistic missile work.
“Iran will continue advancing its ballistic missile programme,” Iran’s armed forces chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri told a ceremony at an IRGC base where the new missile was displayed, Iranian media reported.
Meanwhile, a revived agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear programme is “in sight,” the US said on Tuesday as international talks resumed in Vienna. –Agencies
