Iran claims it has new long-range missile launchers

Iranian defense minister Ahmad Vahidi says missiles were for defensive purposes, enemy would regret any attack.

By ARIEL BEN SOLOMON
Iran test fires a Fajr-3 missile 370 (R) (photo credit: IRNA / Reuters)
Iran test fires a Fajr-3 missile 370 (R)
(photo credit: IRNA / Reuters)
Iranian Defense Minister Brig.-Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said during a ceremony on Sunday that Iran’s Defense Ministry and the aerospace division of the Revolutionary Guard jointly developed a long-range surface-to-surface missile launcher.
According to the report on Iran’s Press TV website, Vahidi said that the missiles were for defensive purposes.
“Today, the Defense Ministry, with the key strategy of self-confidence, hard work and self-sufficiency, designs and manufactures different weapons and military systems in aerospace, naval, aerial, ground, electronic and optic fields,” said Vahidi.
Iran has a habit of triumphantly declaring technological achievements that many Western analysts find doubtful, but there is often no way to check if the new declared technology works.
Iran’s defense minister also said that it would have a strong response to any aggression, making the enemy regret its attack.
“Iran does not want war with any country and will not be the initiator of any war or conflict, but will also not allow any aggression or hostile act [against the country],” Vahidi added according to the report. 
Click here for full Jpost coverage of the Iranian threat
Click here for full Jpost coverage of the Iranian threat
Vahidi also said that the advance was part of Iran’s larger goal of becoming self-sufficient for crucial weapons systems.
The new weapon would allow for firing large numbers of missiles at the enemy, according to Iran’s Mehr News.
Tensions in the region continue to build over the country’s nuclear program, and the threat of an Israeli or American strike has Iran building up its defense systems to meet the threat.
How much is rhetoric and how much is real is not fully known, but the rhetoric has served to prepare and raise the spirits of the Iranian public for any conflict with Israel or the West.