New Delhi: Iran on Thursday unveiled a new ballistic missile named after Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in January.
The showcase took place in the run-up to National Defence Industry Day, which is observed on August 22. During the event, broadcast by state television, Defence Minister Amir Hatami reported on Iran’s latest military achievements — in particular, the ballistic missile, dubbed Hajj Qasem Soleimani, and the cruise missile, called Abu Mahdi. The latter is named after Iraqi Shia militia deputy commander Abu Mahdi Muhandis, who was killed alongside Soleimani near Baghdad.
Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in January in a U.S. strike on their convoy in Baghdad airport.
“Missiles and particularly cruise missiles are very important for us … the fact that we have increased the range from 300 to 1,000 in less than two years is a great achievement,” said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
The announcement comes as Washington is pushing to extend a U.N.-imposed arms embargo against Iran, which is due to expire in October under Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
The Qasem Soleimani missile has a range of 1,400 kilometres, while the Abu Mahdi Muhandis missile hits targets at a range of 1,000 kilometres. The country has also demonstrated domestically-made drones.
In his address, President Hassan Rouhani noted the progress in the defence industry, saying that Iranian weapons must have high precision, sufficient destructive power and manoeuvrability.
He stressed that the national defence industry pursues a strategy of deterrence, rather than any offensive strategy and the country does not aim to occupy any territories or harm any nation.
