According to state media, Iran has unveiled a new missile with a range of 1450 kilometres. The presentation comes a day after negotiations on restoring the 2015 nuclear deal resumed in the Austrian capital Vienna.
Iranian state media reported that the Iranian-made missile has high accuracy and can penetrate missile shields. The unveiling took place with a ceremony at the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps base. “Iran will continue to advance its ballistic missile program,” a senior army official said. However, the West wants Iran to stop doing that.
Iran views its missile program, one of the largest in the Middle East, as an important means of deterring adversaries. According to Iranian authorities, the country’s ballistic missiles have a range of 2,000 kilometres, meaning they could be used to attack Israel and several US bases in the region.
Iran started new negotiations on the nuclear deal in Vienna on Tuesday. Iran is no longer respecting that deal because the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018. The then US President Donald Trump wanted to enforce a broader agreement that also included the missile program.
The deal was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran promised to limit nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions. Since President Joe Biden took office, the US has been trying to restore the accord. Iran has been talking to the other countries involved in the deal since April last year, but there are no direct negotiations with the Americans. However, according to the US, a new agreement is now “insight”.
