A general in Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Thursday claimed the Islamic Republic had developed a hypersonic missile capable of penetrating all defense systems, raising concerns from the UN's nuclear regulator.
Like traditional ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons, hypersonic missiles can travel more than five times the speed of sound. "This hypersonic ballistic missile was designed to counter air defense shields," General Amirali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Unit , was quoted as saying by Iran's Fars news agency.
It will be able to penetrate all missile defense systems," the general said, adding that he believes it would take decades to develop a system capable of intercepting it. "This missile, designed to target enemy missile defense systems, represents a major leap forward in the missile field.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Rafael Grossi expressed his concern about the announcement. "We see all of these announcements increasing attention, concern and public attention to Iran's nuclear program," Grossi said. AFP on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
However, he sees "no influence" on the negotiations on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. The announcement comes after Iran admitted on Saturday it had sent drones to Russia but had done so before the Ukraine war. The Washington Post reported Oct. 16 that Iran was preparing to send missiles to Russia, but Tehran dismissed the report as "completely false."
Deadlocked nuclear talks: It also comes at a time of protests that have rocked Iran since the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's dress code for women would have. Unlike ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles fly in a low-atmosphere trajectory that could hit targets faster.
North Korea's test of a hypersonic missile last year raised concerns about the race to acquire the technology, currently led by Russia, followed by China and the United States. Both Iran and Russia are subject to severe sanctions: Iran after the US unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, and Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February.
The two countries have responded to the sanctions by stepping up cooperation in key areas to shore up their economies. Iran hosted Russian security chief Nikolai Patrushev on Wednesday for talks on issues the Russian side said included "the fight against terrorism and extremism." "as well as measures against Western interference.
A hypersonic missile is manoeuvrable, which makes tracking and countering difficult. While countries like the United States have developed systems capable of countering cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, the ability to track and launch a hypersonic missile continues is doubtful, Thursday's announcement comes amid deadlocked talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.
The deal reached with six major powers (Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US) exempted Iran from sanctions in exchange for guarantees that it could not develop nuclear weapons. Iran has always denied wanting a nuclear weapon. Arsenal. The deal fell through after the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump. - Warning to Saudi Arabia: Iran's claim of having developed a hypersonic missile also follows the November 5 satellite-to-orbit announcement of successful flight testing of a launchable missile.
The United States has repeatedly expressed concern that such launches could bolster Iran's ballistic missile technology, to the point of potentially delivering nuclear warheads. In March, the US government imposed sanctions on Iran's missile-related activities. Iran on Wednesday warned its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, that it would retaliate against moves to destabilize amid protests sparked by Amini's death.
Esmail Khatib said: "Up to now, Iran has shown strategic patience, but it cannot guarantee that it will maintain that strategic patience if hostilities against it continue."
"If the Islamic Republic decides to punish these countries, their glass palaces will crumble and they will no longer enjoy stability," Khatib said. The minister also warned Britain that it would "pay" for hosting hostile reports in Persian. about Amini's protests.