Iran Unveils New Ballistic Missile Amid Nuclear Talks
Iran has unveiled a new precision-guided ballistic missile with a range of 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) amid talks with world powers to revive the nuclear deal.
Iran has unveiled a new precision-guided ballistic missile with a range of 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) amid talks with world powers to revive the nuclear deal.
The solid-fuel missile, dubbed Khaybar Shekan, was unveiled on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by Chief of Staff of Armed Forces Major General, Mohammad Bagheri and Commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Division, Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh as well as a number of other military officials and commanders.
According to the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), the new missile is capable of striking its designated targets with pinpoint accuracy and has a higher agility than Iran’s other missiles.
Officials claimed the new missile, one of Iran’s third-generation long-range missiles manufactured by the IRGC’s Aerospace Division, uses solid propellants, and is said to be capable of penetrating into missile shields with high maneuverability during its landing stage.
The ballistic missile has a pre-determined trajectory and target, with a guidance system that can adjust course just to ensure it impacts as close as possible to the pre-determined target.
Members of the US House of Representatives asked President Joe Biden last week to focus on Iran’s ballistic-missile capabilities, expressing concerns about attempts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile which could “potentially put US allies in Europe as well as the US homeland in range.”
Salam Zawai presented her credentials to Raisi on Tuesday, replacing her father Salah Zawawi who was the Palestinian authority’s ambassador to Tehran for over 40 years.
Her appointment by President Mahmoud Abbas drew criticism and accusations of corruption and nepotism from some Palestinians. When Zawawi's father became ambassador, Yasser Arafat was the head of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
During the meeting, she congratulated the Iranian president on the anniversary of Iran’s revolution, describing it as a victory for the Arab and Muslim world, and slammed regional countries for their normalization of ties with Israel.
Iran, as Israel’s archenemy, has sharply criticized the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for the US-brokered Abraham Accords normalizing relations with Israel in 2020. Common fear of Iran was a factor behind the move.
Zawawi expressed hope for the formation of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital, where she said Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei can lead prayers.
Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz paid a visit to Bahrain amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf after missile attacks on the United Arab Emirates by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement.
