Iran unveils new medium-range missile | tagesschau.de

Status: 05/25/2023 2:46 p.m

Tehran has unveiled a new missile, blatantly threatening the West and especially Israel. The “Chorramschahr 4” is said to be able to evade enemy radar.

Iran has unveiled the latest version of its LPG-powered ballistic missile. The regime in Tehran released undated video footage allegedly showing a successful launch of the rocket. Defense Minister Mohammad Resa Ashtiani said the “Khorramshahr 4” could be prepared for launch within a short period of time. It has a range of 2,000 kilometers and a warhead weighing 1,500 kilograms.

During the presentation, the rocket stood on a launcher mounted on a truck. “One of the outstanding qualities of this missile is its ability to evade radar detection,” said the minister. It is capable of penetrating enemy air defense systems and can use different warheads for different missions.

A model of the Dome of the Rock at the launcher, (Source: Ministry of Defense of Iran)

Miniature model of the Dome of the Rock at launch pad

The demonstration took place against the background of regional tensions. Next to the mobile launch pad was a miniature model of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a sacred site in both Islam and Judaism. Iran considers Israel its arch-enemy and is arming anti-Israel militant groups in the Palestinian territories. The new missile would be able to reach Israel.

West sees threat to Middle East and Gulf region

The West sees Iran’s military and missile program as a threat to the Middle East and the Gulf region. The leadership in Tehran rejects this, claiming that it primarily serves to defend the country.

The “Khorramshahr 4” is named after an Iranian city that was the scene of heavy fighting during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. The rocket is also named Chaibar, after a Jewish stronghold conquered by the Muslims in the seventh century – in what is now Saudi Arabia. However, it remains unclear why Iran calls the missile “Khorramshahr 4”: only two other variants are publicly known.

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