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Tehran: Shahab Missiles Can Reach Israel - 2002-10-04

Feb 12, 2026 February 12, 2026 1 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Iran's missile development director announced the production of long-range Shahab missiles capable of reaching Israel, specifically designed in response to Israel's Jericho missile. The statement emphasizes Iran's focus on conventional warfare capabilities while denying intentions to develop nuclear missiles. This development is significant as it highlights ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: Iran's missile advancements highlight ongoing regional tensions and military posturing, particularly towards Israel.

👥 Key Players

Ahmad Vahid MENTIONED
Director of Iran's missile development program
"He oversees Iran's missile capabilities and space development, which are critical for Iran's defense strategy."
Iran MENTIONED
Nation-state
"Iran's military capabilities and regional policies significantly impact Middle Eastern geopolitics."
Israel MENTIONED
Nation-state
"As a regional adversary, Israel's military capabilities and actions influence Iran's defense strategies."

📰 What Happened

Iran announced the successful development of the Shahab missile, which can reach Israel, in response to Israeli missile capabilities. Ahmad Vahid emphasized that these missiles are intended for conventional warfare only.

  • The Shahab missile has a range of 1300 kilometers, sufficient to target Israel.
  • Iran claims it is not developing nuclear missiles and focuses on conventional warheads.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This development reinforces Iran's military deterrence strategy against perceived threats from Israel.
🌍 Regional: It escalates the arms race in the Middle East, prompting concerns from neighboring countries and potentially leading to increased military tensions.
🌐 International: Western nations, particularly the U.S. and allies, may view this as a threat, impacting diplomatic relations and sanctions policies.

📚 Background

Iran has been developing its missile technology as a response to regional threats, particularly from Israel and the U.S. The Shahab missile program is part of Iran's broader defense strategy.

Iran-Israel relations Middle Eastern military dynamics
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
As a statement from a government official, it reflects Iran's official stance and may downplay or omit any aggressive intentions.

Tehran: The director of Iran's missile development program says that Tehran has developed long-range missiles capable of targeting Israel if it attacks Iran. Ahmad Vahid, in an interview with Al-Hayat newspaper, stated that Iran has produced the Shahab missile, which has a range of 1300 kilometers and can reach Israel. He mentioned that this missile was developed in response to Israel's long-range Jericho missile. Vahid also noted that Iran only produces missiles with conventional warheads and not nuclear ones, and it is not seeking to develop missiles that can reach beyond Israel. Ahmad Vahid, who also heads the Islamic Republic's space development program, said that Iran is working on building a satellite that will be launched into space using the Shahab rocket.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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