Special Meeting of Israeli Security Cabinet in Response to Iran's Missile Test

Israeli media reported on Sunday, September 24, that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security-political cabinet for a special meeting to discuss Iran's new ballistic missile test. According to these reports, Netanyahu was expected to report on his efforts from the previous week at the United Nations General Assembly, where he met with the U.S. President and several other world leaders to discuss the cancellation or amendment of the JCPOA, Iran's nuclear agreement with world powers, and also regarding Iran's military presence in Syria. No details have been released about the meeting on Sunday. The Israeli security-political cabinet includes ministers of sensitive positions, and the army chief and heads of Mossad and Israel's internal security agency also participate in its meetings. The special meeting of the Israeli security-political cabinet was held while the Jewish autumn holidays continue after the Hebrew New Year, approaching Yom Kippur, a major fast, and the Israeli cabinet usually does not meet during this time. However, reports indicate that Netanyahu called the cabinet members to this meeting following Iran's new missile test. The Islamic Republic of Iran announced on Saturday, September 23, coinciding with the anniversary week of the start of the Iran-Iraq War, the successful test of its new long-range ground-to-ground missile named 'Khorramshahr.' Netanyahu compared Iran's nuclear and missile programs in his speech at the UN General Assembly last week to the threat posed by North Korea to the world. He also stated at the UN that Iran has threatened his country, asserting that any factor that puts Israel at risk 'puts itself in danger of annihilation.' Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also stated on Saturday that Iran's new missile test is 'a threat not only to the region but to the free world.' Israel's Minister of Information, Yisrael Katz, said that 'Israel's security is directly endangered by this Iranian test.' According to the Israeli Minister of Information, the country's security agencies have been instructed to conduct necessary investigations regarding Iran's new missile test. Yuval Steinitz, Israel's Minister of Energy and former head of the 'Iran file' in the Israeli government, also stated in an interview with Israeli media on Sunday that the capability to carry multiple warheads in Iran's new ballistic missile 'proves' that the country is seeking nuclear capability. According to Wynet, reserve General Yoav Galant, Israel's Minister of Housing, said on Sunday that his country assumes the JCPOA will not change, and in that case, 'Israel must be able to defend itself.' General Galant also added that Israel is not only concerned about Iran's presence in Syria but is also worried that Iran might reach Jordan. The Tasnim news agency, one of the media outlets close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported on Saturday regarding the Khorramshahr missile test, describing it as 'the most powerful ballistic missile of the IRGC' and among the 'Israel-striking missiles.' Tasnim reported that the Khorramshahr missile, with liquid fuel and a warhead weight of 1800 kg, with the capability of separating warheads and carrying multiple warheads, is considered the seventh long-range ground-to-ground missile of Iran after the 'Shahab,' 'Sajil,' 'Qadr H, D, and F triads,' and 'Emad.' According to this news agency close to the IRGC, Iran in the 1970s 'was thinking that in case of any aggression by the Zionist regime (Israel), it could target the occupied territories and vital centers of this regime.' The Shahab missile, with a range of 1200 kilometers, could reach Tel Aviv from western Iran, such as Kermanshah province, but the Khorramshahr missile has the capability to target Israel from areas in more distant provinces of Iran. Israel has always claimed that Iran's missile development is part of its nuclear program aimed at achieving the ability to install nuclear warheads on long-range missiles. However, Iran has strongly rejected the accusations from Israel and other countries in this regard, stating that Security Council Resolution 2231 describes the testing of missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads as a violation of the JCPOA. In this context, Iran publicly displayed the S-300 missile defense system for the first time.