Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have developed a long-range cruise missile with a range of 1,650 km (1,025 miles), according to a statement by a top commander on Friday. This development is expected to raise concerns among Western nations, especially after Russia’s use of Iranian drones in the Ukraine war.
Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guards aerospace force, made a statement on Friday reiterating Iran’s threat to avenge the killing of a top Iranian commander by the United States. He stated that they are seeking to kill former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Our cruise missile with a range of 1,650 km has been added to the missile arsenal of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Hajizadeh, told state TV.
The television broadcast what it said was the first footage showing the new Paveh cruise missile.
Hajizadeh said Iran did not intend to kill “poor soldiers” when it launched a ballistic missile attack on U.S.-led forces in Iraq days after Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020 in Baghdad.
“God willing, we are looking to kill Trump. (Former Secretary of State Mike) Pompeo … and military commanders who issued the order (to kill Soleimani) should be killed,” Hajizadeh said in the television interview.
Iranian leaders have often vowed to avenge Soleimani in strong terms.
Iran has expanded its missile programme, particularly its ballistic missiles, in defiance of opposition from the United States and expressions of concern by European countries. Tehran says the programme is purely defensive and of a deterrent nature.
Iran has said it had supplied Moscow with drones before the war in Ukraine. Russia has used the drones to target power stations and civilian infrastructure.
In November, the Pentagon said the United States was sceptical of reports quoting Hajizadeh as saying Iran had developed a hypersonic ballistic missile.
