File image.
Chief of Staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi stated on February 4 that the Islamic Republic has strengthened its deterrence by upgrading its ballistic missile arsenal, in an apparent warning to the United States.
President Donald Trump has been threatening Iran over a deadly wave of protests and alleged plans to execute prisoners since last month, amid a major buildup by the U.S. military in the Middle East.
“By upgrading its ballistic missiles in all technical dimensions, Iran has been able to strengthen its deterrence power,” Mousavi said during a visit to a so-called “missile city” of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
“Following the 12-day war, we have changed our military doctrine from defensive to offensive by adopting the policy of asymmetric warfare and [boosting readiness for a] crushing response to the enemies,” the top general added.
Iran has been working to expand its missile program since the end of the war, which was started by Israel in June of last year, according to several recent reports.
Mousavi went on to warn that any miscalculation by the Islamic Republic’s enemies would trigger a “rapid” and “decisive” response.
Iranian armed forces are prepared to respond forcefully to threats, he added, noting, “We think only of victory. We have no fear of the enemy’s superficial might, and we are fully ready for confrontation and to deliver a retaliatory slap.”
A day after the warning, Fars News shared footage showing a live test of the Khorramshahr-4, one of Iran’s heaviest medium-range ballistic missiles.
The liquid-fueled ballistic missile, also known as “Kheibar,” has a maximum range of 2,000 kilometers and can carry a 1,500 kg warhead, which makes it a serious threat to Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East.
The missile is powered by an advanced engine that uses hypergolic fuel, which can be stored in tanks for years, shortening the launch preparation time to 12 minutes. The new propellant requires smaller tanks, reducing the motor section to about 13 meters, with the warhead adding about 4 meters to the missile’s length.
The missile’s airframe is made of a stronger composite material, and a mid-phase navigation system that enables it to correct its course when outside of the atmosphere, so it is not reliant on terminal guidance that can be disrupted by electronic warfare systems.
According to Fars News, the missile can reach speeds up to Mach 16 outside the atmosphere and Mach 8 within the atmosphere, minimizing the reaction time of enemy air defense systems.
Click to see full-size image.
Iranian and U.S. officials are set to hold talks in Oman on February 6. The nuclear issue will be the focus of discussion. However, all recent reports indicate that the two sides are just too far apart on the issue. Washington has been also pressuring the Islamic Republic to curb its missile program and end support to its regional allies. Tehran has refused any talks on these issues.
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