Iran developed a cruise missile with a range of 1,650 km (1,025 miles) a top Revolutionary Guards commander said on Friday.
Separately, Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guards aerospace force, also spoke of Iran’s often repeated threat to avenge the U.S. killing of a top Iranian commander, saying “We are looking to kill (former U.S. President Donald) Trump.”
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“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 on strong terms.
Iran has expanded its missile program, particularly its ballistic missiles, in defiance of opposition from the United States and expressions of concern by European countries. Tehran says the program 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 drones to target power stations and civilian infrastructure.
In November, the Pentagon said the United States was skeptical of reports quoting Hajizadeh as saying Iran had developed a hypersonic ballistic missile.
Earlier this month Iran media revealed an underground Iran Air force base called “Eagle 44”.
According to Iran media, it is one of the first of its kind large enough to house fighter jets. The “Eagle 44” base is capable of storing and operating fighter jets and drones, it said. But The Iran media and Airforce officials did not elaborate on the location of the base.
The purpose of this underground base is to provide secure and protected housing for fighter jets and other aircraft, as well as to serve as a deterrent against potential attackers.
The exact details of the base, such as its size, location, and capabilities, have not been disclosed to the public. The announcement of the base comes amidst ongoing tensions between Iran and the international community and is meant to demonstrate Iran’s military power and readiness to defend itself.
Iran said it was one of the country’s most important air force bases, built deep underground, housing fighters equipped with long-range cruise missiles.
In May, Iran’s army gave details about another underground base, which houses drones, as the country seeks to protect military assets from potential air strikes by regional arch-foe Israel.
“Any attack on Iran from our enemies, including Israel, will see a response from our many air force bases including Eagle 44,” Iran’s armed forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri told state TV Agencies
