Iran 'has missile that can reach Israel'
Iran said today it has manufactured a new missile with a range of 1,200 miles - capable of reaching Israel and US bases in the Middle East.
Iran’s defence minister General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar did not say whether Iran has test-fired the Ashoura missile or has plans to do so.
Ashoura means “the 10th day” in the Iranian language Farsi, a sacred reference among Shiite Muslims to the martyrdom of the third imam.
Analysts believe much of Iran’s military production has benefited from assistance from Russia, China and other countries, but many of its weapons development claims have not been independently verified.
Iran launched an arms development programme during its war with Iraq to compensate for a US weapons embargo.
Since 1992, Iran has reportedly produced its own jets, torpedoes, radar-avoiding missiles, tanks and armoured personnel carriers.
Recent weapons development has been motivated by Iran’s stand-off with the US over its controversial nuclear programme, which Washington claims is a cover for weapons development – a charge Tehran denies.
Iran is known to possess a medium-range ballistic missile known as the Shahab-3, which means “shooting star” in Farsi, with a range of at least 800 miles.
In 2005, Iranian officials said they had improved the range of the Shahab-3 to 1,200 miles, equal to the new missile announced today.
Experts also believe Iran is developing the Shahab-4 missile, thought to have a range between 1,200-1,900 miles, which would enable it to hit much of Europe.
