Iran displayed a surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Thursday that Defence Minister Amir Hatami said had a range of 1,400 kilometers and a new cruise missile, ignoring US demands that Tehran halt its missile program.
“The surface-to-surface missile, called martyr Qassem Soleimani, has a range of 1,400 km and the cruise missile, called martyr Abu Mahdi, has a range of over 1,000 km,” Hatami said in a televised speech.
Pictures of the missiles were shown on state TV, which it said was “the newest Iranian cruise missile that will further strengthen Iran’s deterrence power.”
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in January in a US strike on their convoy in Baghdad airport.
“Missiles and particularly cruise missiles are very important for us ... the fact that we have increased the range from 300 to 1,000 in less than two years is a great achievement,” said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
“Our military might and missile programs are defensive.”
The announcement comes as Washington is pushing to extend a UN-imposed arms embargo against Iran, which is due to expire in October under Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
Read more:
UN report on Iranian missiles in Yemen used against Saudi: Key takeaways explained
Iran says it built ‘missile cities’ along Gulf coast, warns enemies of ‘nightmare’
US to impose UN sanctions ‘snapback’ on Iran: Trump
Tensions have been high between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when President Donald Trump pulled out the United States from the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran.
Washington says its aim is to force Tehran to agree a broader deal that puts stricter limits on its nuclear work, curbs its ballistic missile program and ends its regional proxy wars. Iran has rejected talks as long as US sanctions remain in place.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday Trump has directed him to trigger ‘snapback’ – a return of all US sanctions on Iran - at the U.N. Security Council in New York on Thursday, after the council rejected Washington’s bid to extend Tehran’s arms embargo.
Also Read
-
Russia says US statements on reimposing Iran sanctions are absurd: RIA
Russia described statements by the United States on reimposing UN sanctions against Iran as absurd, adding that it has no legal or political grounds ... World News -
US charges two citizens, one Pakistani with moving US currency to Iran, Khamenei
Two American citizens and one Pakistani national have been charged with federal crimes by the US Justice Department on Wednesday for moving US ... World News -
Number one issue in Iraq is the question of pro-Iran militias: Expert
The number one issue surrounding Iraq is the question of pro-Iranian militias operating outside government control, says former US Army intelligence ... Features -
US to impose UN sanctions ‘snapback’ on Iran: Trump
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is directing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to notify the United Nations Security Council that the United ... Middle East
