Stephen Lendman

Iran’s ballistic missile program is entirely legitimate, solely for defense, designed to carry conventional warheads, not nuclear ones as US and Israeli hawks falsely claim, vilifying the country disgracefully.

On Friday, its new Khorramshahr ballistic missile was displayed during a Tehran military parade - hours later, video footage showed a successful test launch.

It’s Iran’s third intermediate-range ballistic missile, Qadr-F and Sejjil the other two, capable of carrying multiple conventional warheads, their range around 2,000 km.

On Saturday, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said “(a)s long as some speak in the language of threats, the strengthening of the country’s defense capabilities will continue and Iran will not seek permission from any country for producing various kinds of missile.”

Revolutionary Guards aerospace chief General Amir Ali Hajizadeh explained “the Khoramshahr missile has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) and can carry multiple (conventional) warheads,” able to strike Israel and US regional bases in retaliation if attacked by either or both countries.

On Friday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani vowed to continue developing Iran’s ballistic missile capability. It has the technology to deliver them over longer distances, Rouhani saying on national television:

“Whether you like it or not, we are going to strengthen our military capabilities which are necessary for deterrence,” referring to Washington and Israel, both nuclear armed and dangerous, with ballistic missiles capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, representing a major global menace, not Iran, committed to peace and stability.

“We will strengthen not only our missiles but also our air, land and sea forces. When it comes to defending our country, we will ask nobody for their permission,” Rouhani stressed.

“Whether you like it or not, we are going to defend the oppressed peoples of Yemen, Palestine and Syria,” he added.

Months earlier, Trump tweeted “Iran is playing with fire. They don’t appreciate how ‘kind’ President Obama was to them. Not me!”

Expect a hostile White House response to Iran’s latest test, more illegal sanctions ahead virtually certain.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

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