Iran tests new precision-guided ballistic missile

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

DUBAI: Iran successfully tested a new precision-guided ballistic missile, Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan was quoted as saying on Sunday, signalling an apparent advance in Tehran's attempts to improve the accuracy of its missile battery.

"The Emad missile is able to strike targets with a high level of precision and completely destroy them," state news agency IRNA quoted Dehghan as saying.

Anthony Cordesman, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, wrote in January that the Emad would have a range of 1,700 kilometres, 500 metres accuracy and a 750 kilogram payload.

It is a variant of the liquid-fuelled Shahab-3 missile, in service since 2003, which has a similar range but is accurate only to within 2,000 metres.

"The Emad represents a major leap in terms of accuracy. It has an advanced guidance and control system in its nose cone," Israeli missile expert Uzi Rubin said.

Dehghan said the new weapon would be deployed to missile units in the "near future".

Also read: Iran takes role to end Syria war after nuclear deal

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

World

US, Iran hit each other again as hopes for quick peace deal fade

Amnesty accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing of West Bank Bedouin

US, Iran trade threats after tit-for-tat strikes

Angry Pitbull

Oct 11, 2015 01:39pm

I reckon its a very bad and dangerous news for Israel

Recommend 0

Younus Ali (BD)

Oct 11, 2015 02:10pm

well done Iran

Recommend 0

BetRUE

Oct 11, 2015 02:15pm

great news

Recommend 0

mandeep singh

Oct 11, 2015 02:27pm

well done iran good job

Recommend 0

Akil Akhtar

Oct 11, 2015 02:32pm

Well done, only strong muslims nations will be safe from western intervention and crusade....

Recommend 0

Hamza

Oct 11, 2015 02:53pm

Well Done

Recommend 0

Indian

Oct 11, 2015 02:54pm

Good Job. Congrats!

Recommend 0

Patriot

Oct 11, 2015 02:55pm

Still far behind then what Israel!!

Recommend 0

Jaswinder Singh

Oct 11, 2015 03:19pm

Excellent.

Recommend 0

Dr Ahmad - Melbourne

Oct 11, 2015 03:44pm

Israel would be nervous with Iranian missile technology.

Recommend 0

sbk

Oct 11, 2015 04:10pm

Good news

Recommend 0

Rashid Ishaq

Oct 11, 2015 04:11pm

Good luck from Pakistan; hope Iran will use this missile for defence and will bring peace in the region

Recommend 0

doremon

Oct 11, 2015 04:22pm

Pakistan should handle Jundullah otherwise Iran could go for FIELD TEST!!!

Recommend 0

A. Ali

Oct 11, 2015 04:34pm

an open and naked threat to Saudia and other allies in war in Yemen.

Recommend 0

A. Ali

Oct 11, 2015 04:37pm

@Rashid Ishaq ............. in human history how many examples you can quite where weapons, artillery have brought peace in any region ?.

Recommend 0

Dr.Shahmir Baloch

Oct 11, 2015 06:00pm

Emad missile would have a range of 1,700 kilometres, 500 metres accuracy and a 750 kilogram payload. So 500 meter accurary, these rudimentry missile has no match for the western country's advanced messile technology, for that matter of israel's extremly advanced technolgy in this field.Rather than iran spending her billions to match the west, should engage in developing the country economically to erridicate the inate poverty and lack of development and education especially in her non Persian provinces such Sistan and Persian part of Baluchistan.

Recommend 0

Syed Ahmad

Oct 11, 2015 06:52pm

Excellent timing and action of Iran.Cause, nobody care for Negotiations with Weak Country. If you have Biting & Destructive Capability.....One has more chances of Survival.

Recommend 0

Syed Ali

Oct 11, 2015 07:02pm

@Dr Ahmad - Melbourne Is anything new about this technology; Saudis should be nervous.

Recommend 0

Syed Ali

Oct 11, 2015 07:05pm

@A. Ali World War II, and not too long ago Bangladesh; lot more peaceful than Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Mustafa

Oct 11, 2015 07:06pm

I don't know what data is available to Mr. Cordesman, I hope his estimate of 500 meter accuracy is not correct, 500 meter accuracy in this day and age is nothing to crow about. It is a good accuracy for inertial navigation system but not for some widely available electronic technologies like GPS. Iran can easily devise GPS-like systems that don't need a satellite signal to work in a small theater like Israel.

Recommend 0

Abu Mohammed

Oct 11, 2015 07:13pm

I heard this 500 m accuracy is wrong! Please check Iranian media is claiming. Also check the cries of Israel too!

Recommend 0

Cyrus

Oct 11, 2015 07:20pm

... and destroy the target if they have nuclear warheads. Their government doesn't want peace. They are lying to the West. However, the US can and will sanction them again. Why be two faced? It doesn't pay. That is not the way to earn respect. If there is a nuclear war between Iran and Israel, Pakistan will experience a couple of hydrogen bombs landing next door. That should be a concern. We must realize losing 500,000 men in an eight year war with Iraq was very traumatic, but when does it ever stop?

Recommend 0

Cyrus

Oct 11, 2015 07:21pm

@ Angry Pitbull ... It will be bad news for Pakistan when your chosen enemies the Israelis fire back.

Recommend 0

Cyrus

Oct 11, 2015 07:26pm

@Patriot ... If Iran starts a war, Israel will fire back at Iran and the other country that does not recognise their right to exist - yours.

Recommend 0

Cyrus

Oct 11, 2015 07:31pm

@Rashid Ishaq .... Russia and the US were not dumb enough to use nuclear missiles on each other. We don't give Iran and Pakistan that much credit.

Recommend 0

Cyrus

Oct 11, 2015 07:33pm

@doremon ... Probably right.

Recommend 0

Cyrus

Oct 11, 2015 07:37pm

@Dr.Shahmir Baloch .... North Teheran is very rich. The families of the Iranian Republican Guard are quite wealthy. The elite in Iran are not unlike the elite in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Ali

Oct 11, 2015 08:01pm

Good work Iran, love from Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Oct 11, 2015 08:22pm

@Dr.Shahmir Baloch They have started taking steps and are improving. That is important. Matching with high-end western technology cannot be the first step. Do not belittle it. Your other points are valid.

Recommend 0

Rashid Ali

Oct 11, 2015 08:44pm

Good to know that a Muslim country is advancing in the technological field.

Recommend 0

Abdul

Oct 11, 2015 09:19pm

All friendly gestures aside, we must take this serious!

Recommend 0

Junaid

Oct 11, 2015 09:20pm

@Dr.Shahmir Baloch Absolutely not. Defense and survival come first, development and prosperity come later. Iran is absolutely justified in spending its resources on these missiles instead of developing its economy. First tell Israel, the US and the Arabs to stop threatening Iran, then tell Iran to spend its resources on its economy. This should have been a no-brainer, but Western agents are given to making preposterous arguments completely out of touch with reality.

Recommend 0

Avijit Roy

Oct 11, 2015 09:39pm

@Junaid : Have you heard of the GUN vs. BUTTER curve. It is taught in Economics.

Recommend 0

Oct 11, 2015 09:40pm

Sir, it is a very good news. actually all Muslim countries should live independently without any dependence on the powerful country. We can work hard to be more respectable and powerful.

Recommend 0

A. Ali

Oct 11, 2015 09:41pm

Iran sanctions must stay put. any relief will bring instability and more dangerous and hostile living conditions in Middle East and S.E. Asian region. Iran is bidding its time before its ready to unleash its frivolous and evil agenda in this region and Pakistanis should not be happy about Iran's progress, we are already suffering at the hands of Iranian in Balochistan, remember 1974 when more or loss we lost it but miraculously saved from further division... it was Indian / Iranian hand together.... why we forget our past mistake is beyond apprehension.

Recommend 0

ciyber

Oct 11, 2015 09:43pm

@Junaid excellent reply

Recommend 0

Abdul

Oct 11, 2015 10:30pm

Appreciable step Iran move ahead to secure am everlasting sovereignty

Recommend 0

Farooq Sheikh

Oct 11, 2015 10:37pm

@Dr.Shahmir Baloch Concur with you totally!

Recommend 0

Muslim

Oct 11, 2015 11:10pm

A very serious threat to the neighbours in general and ME countries in particular.

Recommend 0

KhalidS

Oct 12, 2015 01:04am

"completely destroy them" are there also missiles who partially destroy enemy!

Recommend 0

Young Turk

Oct 12, 2015 12:23pm

Surely a bad news for Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Freeman

Oct 13, 2015 06:42am

"500 metres accuracy" is accuracy? Are you kidding? Are military installations 1000 meter long. This would be called accuracy if you target a city center, the missile will drop somewhere within 500 meter diameter of the target. boom

Recommend 0

harsh

Oct 13, 2015 02:08pm

"The Emad missile is able to strike targets with a high level of precision and completely destroy them," With 500m accuracy or 1/2 km off the target you need a tactical nuke to destroy it. Let's hope the missile is pointy.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Why SQD-Mini LED is the display breakthrough we’ve been waiting for?

The display industry is entering a new phase, where reducing trade-offs is as important as pushing performance limits.

The Palms at Silk Gardens introduces a new family address in Karachi

The Palms places families at the heart of its vision, offering thoughtfully planned 2 and 3-bedroom units in a secure, peaceful and community-led environment.