Iran Unveils New Ballistic Missile in Show of Force
AFP/APP
Tehran: Iran unveiled a new ballistic missile on Sunday, capable of traveling 1,700 kilometers, at a Tehran ceremony attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian.
State television broadcast images of the missile, named Etemad (“trust” in Persian), describing it as the latest development by the Iranian Defense Ministry. Western nations have raised concerns over Iran’s advancing missile program, accusing it of destabilizing the Middle East.
Iran’s missiles, including this latest design, can reach Israel, which Tehran targeted twice last year as the Gaza war spilled over.
“The development of defense capabilities and space technologies aims to ensure that no country dares to attack Iranian territory,” Pezeshkian stated in a televised address.
Additionally, Iran showcased three domestically produced satellites: Navak, a 34-kilogram communications model, and upgraded versions of Pars-1 and Pars-2, used for environmental monitoring, emergency response, and urban management, according to IRNA.
The unveiling coincided with Iran’s National Aerospace Day and preceded the 46th anniversary of the Islamic Republic’s creation on February 10, 1979.
Since the return of US President Donald Trump, who pursued a “maximum pressure” policy against Iran in his first term, Tehran has intensified its military displays, including large-scale exercises and unveiling underground bases.
On Saturday, Iran also introduced a new cruise missile, Ghadr-380, which a naval commander claimed has anti-jamming capabilities and a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).
Meanwhile, Tehran has signaled readiness to resume nuclear negotiations, a long-standing point of contention with Western nations.
Iran, once reliant on US military equipment, has been forced to develop its own weaponry since Washington severed ties and imposed sanctions following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
