Iran announces locally made ballistic and cruise missiles amid U.S. tensions

By Parisa Hafezi

 

A new missile unveiled by Iran is launched in an unknown location in Iran in this picture received by Reuters on August 20, 2020. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

 

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran displayed a surface-to-surface ballistic missile on Thursday that Defence Minister Amir Hatami said had a range of 1,400 kilometres and a new cruise missile, ignoring U.S. demands that Tehran halt its missile programme.

 

"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".

 

Soleimani, head of Iran's elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in January in a U.S. 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 programmes are defensive."

 

The announcement comes as Washington is pushing to extend a U.N.-imposed arms embargo against Iran, which is due to expire in October under Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

 

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 U.S. sanctions remain in place.

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday Trump has directed him to trigger 'snapback' - a return of all U.S. 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.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-20

 

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Next  up? North Korea !

Trump's "Art of the Deal" showing results ....again !

All"deal" was made already whit Iran and they was happy about that! Only one can F all deals and he did it! How many real deals he has really make? Wall deal? Deal whit Kim Jong-Un where is that! This "game" is not apprentice show!

A martyr Qassem Soleimani missile fired in anger will almost certainly be returned with a bigger martyr Iran one  ???? 

"Our military might and missile programmes are defensive."

 

Sure they are! That's the ticket!

 

Defensive missile programmes (not to mention miscellaneous "military might") using re-warmed virtually 75-y.o. WWII technology. There should be some restored B17s available for their strategic bombing campaigns. They'll probably need some escort fighters from the era, but they will be difficult to find and obtain.

Hummm.... just 3 years ago we were taking the first tentative steps towards normal relations with Iran we signed an agreement they were holding up their side and along comes trump things were better before and yes I know Iran is no angel neither are we let’s not underestimate the proud Iranian nation let’s hope they are never used in anger provoking an obviously larger response from us 

            If they use the missiles they will be knocked back to the stone ages!

2 hours ago, vandeventer said:

            If they use the missiles they will be knocked back to the stone ages!

Just like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq....

23 hours ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Next  up? North Korea !

Trump's "Art of the Deal" showing results ....again !

Iran was Obama's deal. 

18 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

Iran was Obama's deal. 

To which the US is no longer a signatory. US wants a snapback with Iran which likely will set up more friction with US allies with only the US implementing sanctions. Should trump retain power US will be even more isolated on the world stage - not a good outcome for the US or the world in general.

Edited August 21, 20205 yr by simple1

4 hours ago, vandeventer said:

            If they use the missiles they will be knocked back to the stone ages!

They already have - they used them in January to attack 2 US military bases in Iraq ...... no stone age yet ......

On 8/20/2020 at 7:32 PM, Dumbastheycome said:

Next  up? North Korea !

Trump's "Art of the Deal" showing results ....again !

Some people are not getting this,it is called sarcasm people!