Iran test-fires long-range ballistic missile

Iran has successfully test-fired a new domestically made long-range ballistic missile, the Islamic Republic’s defense minister, Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan said.

Vahidi said the Emad missile had been developed and produced in Iran and was more precise than the preceding model. “There is no intention of aggression or threats in this action”, he added.

The launch comes months after a few Iranian officials voiced concern that the Islamic republic’s recent nuclear deal with world powers could place limits on its missile program. Israel is widely presumed to have the Middle East’s only nuclear weapons.

The liquid-propelled rocket had a range of 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles) and was accurate to within 500 meters (547 yards) of the target. Iran says none of its missiles are designed for that objective.

Israeli missile expert Uzi Rubin told Reuters “The Emad represents a major leap in terms of accuracy”.

It is able to destroy the targets with high precision, the Iranian minister said without further details on the technical specificities and range of the missile.

Improvements in accuracy could let Iran use its missiles in a wider variety of roles, for example by targeting military bases or economic assets rather than population centres.

Since 1992, Iran has been manufacturing its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles, radars, boats, submarines and fighter planes.