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Iran Test-Fires New Ballistica Missile
TEHRAN, May 31 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Iran said Thursday it successfully test-fired a locally made surface-to-surface missile amid concerns from the United States and Israel.
The Iranian News Agency (IRNA) said on its website that the "solid-fuelled" missile, Fateh (Victorious) 110, could hit targets with high accuracy and that it was completely made at the Islamic Republic's military bases.
"It is regarded as one of the most effective weapons of the Islamic Republic's armed forces," IRNA said.
Iranian State Television showed pictures of the ballistic missile launch amid cries of "Allahu Akbar", God is Great.
The defense ministry refused to give any details on the missile to Tehran-based news agencies, notably its range. But the U.S. has said that Iran was developing long-range missiles with help from Russia, China and North Korea.
Last year, Iran successfully launched the Shahab-3 missile with a range of 1,300 kilometers (800 miles), bringing arch-foe Israel in reach.
Iran says it's developing a comprehensive new arms program as "a deterrence" rather than as an offensive tool, in spite of a U.S. arms embargo on the Muslim country.
"The United States and the Zionist regime have voiced concern over Iran's success in producing its locally-designed armament in an effort to divert world attention from the real threats of the Israeli regime which is said to have tens of nuclear warheads," IRNA said.
Iran accused the U.S. and Israel of portraying the country as a threat to neighboring countries so as to drum up arms sales to rich Gulf Arab countries.
Iran, which became an Islamic state after the 1979 revolution, says it is developing a comprehensive domestic defense industry, which has turned out a new transport plane, a combat helicopter, a submarine and a guided-missile warship.
It has also decided to resume military purchases from Russia, to the annoyance of the United States, which deems Iran a supporter of "terrorism".
Tehran denies U.S. and Israeli accusations that it has plans to develop nuclear weapons, and complained that they were denying Iran the minimum of peaceful nuclear technology that the country needs for energy purposes.
Iran is a signatory of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Iran is trying to complete, with Russian help, a nuclear reactor in the southern city of Bushehr started by German firms under the late Shah before the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The United States has put pressure on Moscow not to help Iran's nuclear and missile programs.
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