Iran unveils new long-range cruise missile

Iran has unveiled a new long-range land-to-land cruise missile, named Soumar, which has been designed and manufactured by domestic experts.

The new state-of-the-art high-precision missile was unveiled during a Sunday ceremony in Tehran with senior Iranian officials, including former Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan, in attendance, as the Middle Eastern country displays its achievements during celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

During the ceremony, Deqhan said Soumar “enjoys different characteristics in terms of range and pinpoint accuracy in comparison with the previous products.”

Such important achievements, which have been made through research and innovation based on the needs of Iranian Armed Forces, are “considered as crucial steps toward increasing the country’s defense and deterrence might,” he added.

New cruise missile has a range of 1,300 km (800 miles), state television reported.

“With a range of more than 1,300 km ... this cruise missile needs a very short time for its preparedness and can fly at a low altitude,” Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami said in remarks carried by state television during the unveiling ceremony.

The Iranian defense minister stressed that Tehran aims to promote the range, precision and destructive power of such type of missiles in the upgraded versions, which are to be unveiled in the next Iranian calendar year (starting on March 21).

Hatami said the new surface-to-surface missile, named Hoveizeh, was from the Soumar family of cruise missiles, which were unveiled in 2015.

Western experts say Iran often exaggerates its weapons capabilities, although there are concerns about its long-range ballistic missiles.

Iran said in January its bid to launch a satellite failed after Tehran ignored U.S. warnings to avoid such activity.

Washington warned Tehran this month against undertaking three planned rocket launches that it said would violate a U.N. Security Council resolution because they use ballistic missile technology.

The United States is concerned that the long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also be used to launch warheads.