Iran has unveiled two new missiles amid fresh tensions with the US and its allies in the Middle East, demonstrating a development of an arsenal with sophistication and reach capable of threatening and deterring foes across the region.
The display of new missiles adds to a buildup of regional animosity after the UAE and Israel last week said they were forging diplomatic relations. The US-backed deal aligns old enemies against a common rival in Iran.
The missile presentation, broadcast on Iranian state television late on Thursday (Friday AEST), came on Iran’s annual National Defence Industry day. Iran’s army used the occasion to gloat over what it called a “last frantic attempt” by the US to prevent it from buying weapons.
The UN Security Council last week rejected a US proposal to extend a five-year ban on the sale of conventional weapons to the country. Donald Trump has said his administration now plans to move unilaterally to try to trigger sanctions on Iran.
As a result of last week’s Security Council vote, the embargo on arms sales to Iran will expire in October as stipulated in the 2015 international nuclear deal, which the Trump administration withdrew from in 2018. The administration says a reason for leaving the 2015 deal was that it didn’t curb Tehran’s missile program.
Read the article by Aresu Eqbali and Sune Engel Rasmussen (Wall Street Journal) in The Australian.