Iran is broadening its terror reach, moving ahead with plans to develop advanced weapons systems, capable of threatening even more countries.
Iran has plans to upgrade and broaden the range of its missile arsenal, the Iranian Fars news agency reports.
“We will abolish Fateh 110 missiles (a short-range ballistic missile) as well as the mid-range (high-precision ballistic) Qiyam and Qadr (first generation of air-launched precision-guided) missiles to replace them with new missiles,” Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps’ (IRGC) Aerospace Force, announced in Tehran on Friday.
Hajizadeh was referring to the unveiling of the long-range, ground-to-ground Soumar cruise missile system last week. The weapon system was built notwithstanding the harsh sanctions imposed by the P5+1 powers in an attempt to stymie the development of Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
He stressed that Iran will never allow its defense program and cruise missiles to become an issue in negotiations with the world powers.
Iran unveiled the Soumar missile system in a ceremony attended by senior military officials and commanders on Sunday.
“The long-range, ground-to-ground Soumar cruise missile system has been designed and built by experts of the defense ministry’s aerospace industries organization,” Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan told reporters after the unveiling ceremony.
“The designing and building of this weapon, whose navigation and propulsion systems and its structure enjoy complicated and new technologies, is seen as a wide stride taken to enhance the Islamic Republic of Iran’s defensive and deterrence power,” he added.
Iran has repeatedly claimed that its military and nuclear development were meant for “peaceful” uses.
Iran Carries On with Weapons Development
Dehqan also announced the mass delivery of Qadr and Qiyam long-range ballistic missiles to the IRGC’s Aerospace Force, saying that these weapons were capable of destroying different types of targets under any conditions due to their “tactical capability, sustainability in the battleground and radar-evading features.”
He also announced that the defense ministry would deliver upgraded versions of these high-precision missiles to the Iranian military next year.
The Iranian Armed Forces recently test-fired different types of newly developed home-made weapons, tools and equipment, including submarines, military ships, artillery and aircraft during massive military drills.
Fars news quotes defense analysts and military observers as saying that Iran’s war games and advances in weapons production were proven to be a deterrent factor.
Iran successfully tested the second generation of Sejjil missiles and brought it into mass production in 2009.
Iran’s 2000-km-range, liquid-fuel Qadr F ballistic missile can reach territories as far as Israel, Fars news points out.
By: United with Israel Staff
Sign the Petition to Stop a Nuclear Iran
The US Congress must ensure that sanctions against Iran remain in force until the nuclear threat is completely eliminated.
I strongly oppose easing sanctions before the nuclear threat from Iran has been eliminated. Allowing Iran to enrich uranium without being subject to 'anytime, anywhere' inspections is extremely dangerous and unacceptable. Iran's nuclear program must be stopped.