Iran unveils new ballistic missile in show of force

Published
0
In this handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency on February 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (C) visits a defence and space achievements exhibition in Tehran. — AFP
In this handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency on February 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (C) visits a defence and space achievements exhibition in Tehran. — AFP

Iran revealed a new ballistic missile on Sunday that it said was capable of travelling 1,700 kilometres, unveiling it at a Tehran ceremony attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian.

State television broadcast images of the missile, dubbed Etemad, or “trust” in Persian, noting its range and calling it “the most recent ballistic missile” built by the Iranian defence ministry.

Western countries have grown concerned over advances in Iran’s ballistic missile programme, accusing it of destabilising the Middle East. Iran’s missiles, including this newest design, are capable of reaching its arch-foe Israel, which it targeted twice last year as the Gaza conflict spilled over.

“The development of defence capabilities and space technologies … aims to ensure that no country dares to attack Iranian territory,” Pezeshkian said in a televised address.

Three domestically produced satellites were also presented at the ceremony: a roughly 34-kilogramme communications model called Navak, as well as updated versions of the Pars-1 and Pars-2.

The latter two are imaging models used to monitor “the environment, emergency situations and urban management”, according to the official IRNA news agency.

The ceremony took place on Iran’s national aerospace day and a few days before the 46th anniversary of the creation of the Islamic republic on February 10, 1979.

Since the return of US President Donald Trump — who pursued a “maximum pressure” approach to Iran in his first term — Tehran has made multiple shows of force, including large-scale military exercises and the presentation of underground military bases.

It also revealed a new model of a cruise missile on Saturday called the Ghadr-380, which a naval commander said had “anti-jamming capabilities” and a range of more than 1,000 kilometres.

At the same time, Tehran has signalled its willingness to restart negotiations over its nuclear programme, which has been the subject of tensions with Western countries for decades.

Iran, which once sourced the majority of its military equipment from its then-ally the United States, has been forced to develop its own weaponry since Washington cut off ties and imposed sanctions in the wake of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Having been under an arms embargo during a devastating war with Iraq between 1980 and 1988, Iran now has a substantial arsenal of domestically developed weapons, including missiles, air defence systems and drones.

Opinion

Editorial

Fixing bond markets
01 Oct, 2026

Fixing bond markets

THE plan to deepen the domestic local currency bond market by allowing the public to trade government securities...
Call centre rackets
01 Oct, 2026

Call centre rackets

A NUMBER of recent raids conducted by the authorities in different cities point to the growing threat fraudulent ...
Homeward bound
01 Oct, 2026

Homeward bound

FIVE months after Somali pirates captured an oil tanker carrying a 19-member multinational crew, Somali maritime...
Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...