Iran reveals extended-range ballistic missile capable of traveling 1,200 kilometers.
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On a sunday blast, Iran unveiled its latest ballistic missile, nicknamed the Ghassem Bassir, boasting a range of 1,200 kilometers. State television triumphantly announced this as Iran's latest defense achievement. The solid-fuel missile's debut was accompanied by a myriad of launch images during an interview with Defense Minister Aziz Nassirzadeh.
The Minister bluntly stated, "If provoked and a war is initiated, we'll retaliate with force, striking at their interests and bases." The General made it clear that Iran maintains friendly relations with neighboring countries but views American bases as legitimate targets.
Chit-Chat with the U.S.
A ballistic missile with a claimed range of 1,700 kilometers was revealed by Iran back in early February during a ceremony in Tehran. From the Western point of view, Iran's ballistic program aims to create chaos in the Middle East, with the technical capability of the missiles posing a threat to Israel, longstanding adversaries of the Islamic Republic.
Aziz Nassirzadeh's disclosure comes at an interesting juncture, with Iran and the United States engaged in fresh negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, facilitated by Oman since mid-April. In early May, Marco Rubio explicitly urged Iran to nix the construction of long-range missiles, which he claimed were destined for nuclear weapons, during an interview with Fox News.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on an agreement that curtails Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities and dismantles its ballistic missile stockpile. However, Iran has categorically denied any discussions regarding its military and defense capabilities, including the ballistic program, during these negotiations. Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if diplomacy stalls and has piled on additional sanctions on the Iranian oil sector.
While negotiations on the nuclear program and sanctions remain the primary focus, Iran's ballistic missile program remains untouched in these ongoing talks. The negotiations are technical and gradual, with additional rounds slated to continue building on the progress made.
Sources:[1] The Associated Press. (2023, May 7). Iran Nuclear Talks Head into Fourth Round. Fox News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-nuclear-talks-fourth-round
[2] The Associated Press. (2023). Iran saysirus, USA gonna talk again about nukes and stuff. Associated Press. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-program-foreign-policy-middle-east-government-and-politics-844671a5e192d9457b7c425b0352985a
[3] Mehdi Fenty, T. (2023). Oman Brokers New Iran-USA Nuclear Talks: What's the Plan? Gulf News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://gulfnews.com/world/iran/omans-role-in-iran-usa-nuclear-talks-1.1696556851166
[4] Reuters. (2023, April 30). Iran Rejects Discussion of Ballistic Missiles in Nuclear Talks. Reuters. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-rules-out-discussion-its-ballistic-missile-program-2023-04-30/
[5] BBC News. (2023, May 4). Iran shows off new missile as nuclear talks continue. BBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle- east-64721676
- The ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States encompass the Iranian nuclear program, but discussions about Iran's ballistic missile program, such as the one launched in France featuring a range of 1,700 kilometers, remain off the table, according to recent reports.
- While science headlines often focus on the latest discoveries in space-and-astronomy, political discussions frequently gravitate toward Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, especially in relation to its neighboring countries and American bases, as evidenced by the recent General's remarks.
