Tehran: Iran has announced the “successful test” of a new cruise missile with a range of over 1,350 kms, coinciding with celebrations for the country’s 1979 Islamic revolution. “The test of the Hoveizeh cruise missile was carried out successfully at a range of 1,200 kms and accurately hit the set target,” Defence Minister Amir Hatami said, quoted on state television which broadcast footage of its launch. “It can be ready in the shortest possible time and flies at a very low altitude,” he said. Hatami described the Hoveizeh as the “long arm of the Islamic Republic of Iran” in defending itself.
It is part of the Soumar group of cruise missiles, first unveiled in 2015 with a range of 700 kms, according to the minister. The Hoveizeh unveiling was part of an arms exhibition dubbed “40 years of defensive achievements” and held in Tehran. Friday marked the beginning of 10 days of celebrations of the Islamic revolution that ousted the pro-Western shah.
Iran has voluntarily limited the range of its missiles to 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles), but this is still sufficient to reach Israel and Western bases in the Middle East. Washington and its allies have accused Tehran of pursuing enhanced missile capabilities that also threaten Europe.
