Iran revealed on Thursday the latest version of its liquid-fueled Khorramshahr missile, amid heightened tensions between the West and Iran over its nuclear program.
At an event in Tehran the authorities showed the Khorramshahr-4 missile to journalists, mounted on a truck launcher. Defense Minister Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani stated that the missile can be ready for launch within a short time.
Officials in Iran described the missile’s range as 1,240 miles with a warhead weighing 3,300 pounds. The Iranians also released video footage that purportedly showed a successful missile launch.
The Khorramshahr-4 missile is named for a city in Iran that saw heavy fighting during Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. The missile is also called Kheibar after a Jewish fortress that was conquered by Muslims in the 7th Century in what is today Saudi Arabia.
Iran’s Thursday missile display was likely influenced by regional tensions. The mobile launcher was accompanied by a miniature of the golden Dome of the Rock, which is located on the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex, a holy place in both Islam, and Judaism, that Jews refer to as the Temple Mount.
Iran considers Israel its arch-enemy, and it is arming antisemitic militant groups in the Palestinian Territories and other countries. The tensions between Iran and Israel are rising, especially as Iran enriches its uranium to levels closer to those of weapons. The Khorramshahr could reach Israel.
However, it is unclear why the missile was named Khorramshahr-4, as only two variants are known to the public. The missile is based on the Musudan ballistic rocket from North Korea.
