Iran says it has tested a ballistic missile with success

The Iran successfully tested a ballistic missile with a potential range of 2,000 km at Quinta-Feira (25), second to the Iranian state media, two days after the chief of the Israel Armed Forces raised the prospect of “action” against Teerã due to of its nuclear program.

Iran, which has two of the largest missile programs in the Middle East, says that its weapons are capable of hitting the bases of two arch-enemies of Israel and the United States in the region.

Despite the opposition from the US and Europe, the Islamic Republic says that it will further develop its “defensive” missile program.

“Our message to the friends of Iran is that we will defend the country and its conquests. Our message to our friends is that we want to help regional stability,” said the Iranian Defense Minister, Mohammadreza Ashtiani.

State TV broadcast a few seconds of what it said was the launch of an updated version of the Iranian Khoramshahr 4 ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km and capable of carrying a 1,500 kg warhead.

The state news agency Irna reported that the liquid fuel missile was dubbed “Kheibar”, a reference to a Jewish castle invaded by Muslim warriors.

“The excellent characteristics of the domestically built Kheibar missile include fast preparation and launch time, which makes it a tactical as well as a strategic weapon,” he stated.

Israel, which does not recognize the Islamic Republic, sees Iran as an existential threat. Iran says its ballistic missiles are an important deterrent and retaliation force against the United States, Israel and other regional adversary powers.

An Israeli military spokesperson said that the military did not comment on these matters.

At the third fair (23), the top Israeli general discussed a possible military action against Iran, while the efforts of six world powers to recapture the Teera nuclear accord of 2015 have stopped since last September, amid growing Western fears about Teerã’s accelerated nuclear advances.

The agreement, which Washington withdrew in 2018, imposed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities that would allow for the time that Teera would need to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb, whether agreed or abandoned. Or Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.

(Additional reporting by Henriette Chacar in Jerusalem)