Zarif: Israel carried out nuclear missile test aimed at Iran

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said on Friday that Israel's rocket propulsion test conducted that morning was a nuclear missile test “aimed at Iran.” “Israel today tested a nuke-missile, aimed at Iran,” Zarif said on Twitter, adding that the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom “never complain about the only nuclear arsenal in West Asia – armed with missiles actually DESIGNED to be capable of carrying nukes – but has fits of apoplexy over our conventional & defensive ones.” Israel today tested a nuke-missile, aimed at Iran. E3 & US never complain about the only nuclear arsenal in West Asia—armed with missiles actually DESIGNED to be capable of carrying nukes—but has fits of apoplexy over our conventional & defensive ones. https://t.co/r4EqXkhcCN — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) December 6, 2019 Early on Friday, the Defense Ministry conducted an experimental test of its rocket propulsion system from a military base located in the center of the country. Images shared on social media showed a projectile streaking through the sky. The launch was planned in advance and carried out as planned. According to Channel 13, Ben-Gurion International Airport diverted air traffic during the test to allow for the system to be fired safely. There was no comment on whether or not the test was successful nor what system was tested but some speculated that it may be the surface-to-surface Jericho system, an intercontinental ballistic missile which according to foreign reports can support a nuclear payload. According to those reports, Israel has had the Jericho in it's arsenal for decades with the most recent Jericho-3 entering service in 2011. Israel is reported to be working on the Jericho-4 With a multi-layered aerial defense, which includes the Iron Dome, Arrow and David's Sling, missile system tests such as these are not uncommon. Rocket propulsion systems are designed to launch large systems such as satellites, ballistic missiles and large ground to air missiles. Israel's air defenses currently include: the Iron Dome, designed to shoot down short-range rockets; and the Arrow system which intercepts ballistic missiles outside of the Earth's atmosphere. The David's Sling missile defense system is designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets, as well as cruise missiles fired at ranges between 40 to 300 km. The advanced systems are meant to provide Israel with a comprehensive protective umbrella able to counter threats posed by both short and mid-range missiles used by terrorist groups in Gaza and south Lebanon, as well as the threat posed by more sophisticated long-range Iranian ballistic missiles. The test comes as tensions remain high over concerns that Iran is continuing to entrench itself across the Middle East and has breached a number of commitments in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA.) On Thursday, several European countries accused Iran of developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons such as the Shahab-3 in violation of the JCPOA and the United States is reported to be considering sending thousands of more troops to the Middle East. On Wednesday, a top Pentagon official was quoted as saying that Washington continues to see “indications” that Iranian aggression could occur and on Thursday the US announced that a “significant cache” of suspected guided missile parts was headed to Houthi rebels in Yemen including disassembled part for anti-ship cruise missiles, land attack cruise missiles, air defense missiles and anti-tank missiles. Iran has several rockets which could reach Israeli territory including the Khoramshahr 2 with a range of up to 2,000 km. and Shahab-3. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Iran is working to develop precision-guided missiles that can hit any target in Israel within 5-10 meters and has been entrenching in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen to use as bases to attack Israel with statistical missiles and precision-guided missiles.

Zarif: Israel carried out nuclear missile test aimed at Iran

Images shared on social media on Friday morning showed projectile streaking through Israel’s skies.

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Zarif: Israel carried out nuclear missile test aimed at Iran

Images shared on social media on Friday morning showed projectile streaking through Israel’s skies.

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