Iran Tests a Ballistic Missile with a Range of Two Thousand Kilometers

Despite increasing criticism from the U.S. government regarding Iran's missile program development, Iranian media reported the unveiling and "successful" testing of a ballistic missile in Iran. On Friday (September 22), the Tasnim news agency wrote that the latest ballistic missile of the Islamic Republic, named "Khoramshahr," was unveiled and tested again during a military parade coinciding with the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war. The declared range of this missile puts various parts of the Middle East and Israel within its reach; Tasnim referred to this new missile as a "nightmare for Israel." The agency reported under the title "Israel-striking Missiles" that "the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) now has a total of 7 different missiles that can be launched towards Tel Aviv from various points in the country if necessary." According to the Islamic Republic's news agency, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, announced that this missile has a range of two thousand kilometers and is capable of carrying one or multiple warheads. According to this IRGC commander, the "Khoramshahr" missile was manufactured by the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Republic, and its "training process" has also begun. Hajizadeh also added that this missile can carry a warhead of up to 1,800 kilograms. The IRNA news agency also reported that this ballistic missile is under the control of the IRGC Aerospace Force and that "no precise information regarding its technical and engineering features and capabilities has been published so far." Tasnim also reported in another news item that the "successful test of this missile" has been confirmed and stated that this is Iran's third missile with a range of two thousand kilometers. The timing and location of this test were not mentioned in the news. Concurrently with the display of this long-range missile at the military parade in Tehran, the President of Iran also announced that despite the opposition of Western countries, the missiles of the Islamic Republic will be "strengthened." Mr. Rouhani, during the ceremony held on the anniversary of the beginning of the Iran-Iraq war, added that the Islamic Republic will "not only strengthen its missiles" but also its ground, air, and naval forces. He made these remarks despite previously criticizing the display of the IRGC's underground missile sites, calling it an act to "disrupt the nuclear agreement." On September 28, Amir Hatami, the Iranian Minister of Defense, reported on what he called the "obligation" to increase the country's missile capabilities and added that the twelfth government will pursue this approach. He had also stated in late August, before the parliament's vote of confidence for him, that increasing the power of ballistic and cruise missiles would be part of his plans if confirmed in the position of Minister of Defense. Meanwhile, the U.S. government had previously stated that Iran's missile program and the activities of the IRGC's Quds Force "violate the spirit" of the nuclear agreement. UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which was issued after the Vienna nuclear agreement to endorse it, called on Iran to refrain from developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Iran has stated that its produced missiles do not have the capability to carry nuclear weapons and therefore, its missile activities do not violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231.