Iran test-fires cruise missile in the Gulf

Iran test-fires cruise missile in the Gulf

Commander says "long-range" missile has been successfully launched during naval exercises near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran says it has successfully test-fired a "long-range" missile during naval exercises near the Strait of Hormuz, the state news agency IRNA reports.

"We have test fired a long-range shore-to-sea missile called Ghader [capable], which managed to successfully destroy predetermined targets in the Gulf," the agency quoted deputy navy Commander Mahmoud Mousavi as saying on Monday.

He said it was "the first time" a Ghader missile had been tested.

The Ghader missile is said to have a range of 200km, which is generally considered medium-range or even short-range for a cruise missile, even though IRNA described it as "long-range".

"This missile is not by any means the longest-range missile that the Islamic Republic possesses," Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari, who has reported extensively on Iran, said.

"We know that back in 2009 Sejil-2 was unveiled and it has a range of 2,000km. At the time they said it was capable of reaching various targets in Europe and also Tel Aviv."

Mousavi earlier told IRNA that "the Ghader is an ultra-modern missile with an integrated, ultra-precise radar whose range and intelligent anti-detection system have been improved over previous generations".

He said the navy was to test two other types of missiles later Monday, a surface-to-surface Nour missile, also with a range of 200km, and a Nasr anti-ship missile with a shorter range.

The Ghader is said to be entirely built by Iran, while the Nour and Nasr missiles are based on Chinese designs.

Mousavi said observers from the country's closest Arab ally, Syria, would attend the end of its 10-day naval exercise on Monday.

The missile's launch and the military exercises are meant to show Iran's military capabilities at a time when the US and other Western nations are increasing pressure over Tehran's nuclear programme.

The fact that they are taking place near the Strait of Hormuz has focused attention on Iran's threats in recent days that it could close the narrow channel, a strategic oil route at the entrance to the Gulf, if more sanctions are imposed.

In a move that could intensify a brewing Gulf showdown, US President Barack Obama on Saturday signed into law tough new sanctions targeting Iran's central bank and financial sector.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies