Iran Tests Ballistic Missile Amid US Tensions

Earlier this week Iran claimed to have a weapon even bigger than America’s largest ever non-nuclear explosive – dubbed the “Father of All Bombs”. “That’s what it aspires to do, and we can not allow it to happen”.

In an interview with CNN, he called for a new agreement to monitor Iran’s missile development.

Israel is 1,118 miles from Iran.

Western leaders reacted warily to Iran’s announcement Saturday that it had successfully tested a new medium-range ballistic missile.

TEHRAN-Iran said it had tested a new medium-range ballistic missile, the day after unveiling it in defiance of US criticism over its disputed nuclear program.

Britain also voiced concerns about the latest test.

The public show in Tehran’s Baharestan square near the Parliament building square exhibited different missile systems, including ballistic missiles, solid-fuel surface-to-surface Sejjil missiles and the liquid-fuel Ghadr.

“Iran is directly challenging the global community”, said Foreign Ministry director-general Yuval Rotem in a statement.

He also criticized a 2015 pact that the United States and other world powers had struck with Iran in which Tehran had agreed to restrict its nuclear program in return for relief from economic sanctions.

The week-long events are held in commemoration of Iranian forces’ eight-year defense of the Islamic Republic in the face of Iraq’s 1980-88 imposed war against the country. The agreement does not mention conventional missile tests.

The launch of the Khoramshahr missile, which has a range of 2,000 km (1242 miles), was broadcast on Friday, just days after Donald Trump criticised Iran’s missile programme at the United Nations on Tuesday.

Tehran insists its missile program doesn’t the resolution, saying the missiles are not created to carry nuclear weapons.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he is “extremely concerned” by reports that Iran tested a missile, saying the action was inconsistent with United Nations resolutions.

The entire global community praised the deal “except only two people”, Rouhani said, referring to Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We will strengthen our defense and military capabilities. whether you want it or not”, Rouhani said, a direct response to Trump’s speech at the U.N. General Assembly this week.

“We are going to strengthen our military capabilities which are necessary for deterrence”, Rouhani said at the event, in remarks relayed by the semi-official FARS news agency.