Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani rejected western criticism of his country’s ballistic missiles program, after Tehran announced the development of its first domestically made “hypersonic” ballistic missile.
“The precision-guided Fattah hypersonic missile has a range of 1,400 km and it is capable of penetrating all defense shields,” Amirali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace force, was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.
This is the second ballistic missile announced by Iran within two weeks, after it tested, earlier last month, a ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers.
Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and on a complex trajectory, which makes them difficult to intercept. Last year, Iran said it had built a hypersonic ballistic missile which can maneuver in and out of the atmosphere.
The Revolutionary Guard revealed a model of the missile during a ceremony attended by its senior commanders and Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi.
In a statement on Thursday, Kanaani said that his country’s missile activities are “well-known, defensive, and legitimate, in accordance with international laws,” accusing Western countries of “interfering” in his country’s affairs.
“These countries, which have a long and clear history of violating international obligations in several areas, including nuclear tests, the non-proliferation system, stockpiling ballistic missiles, and playing a disruptive role in regional and international issues, are not entitled to comment on Iran’s legitimate and legal defense capabilities,” he said.
Kanani specifically referred to the security alliance between Australia, Britain and the United States, known as AUKUS, saying: “This alliance is a blatant example of the political and discriminatory orientation of the nuclear powers in transferring technology and highly enriched uranium to non-nuclear states, contrary to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
Kanaani’s remarks came at a time when giant posters depicting the Fattah missile and the slogan “400 seconds to Tel Aviv '' invaded billboards and two walls in squares and large streets in Tehran, which are usually reserved for propaganda sponsored by the IRGC.
“We are proud of the missile production that dazzles the world,” said Raisi on Thursday, during a tour of East Azerbaijan Province.
On Wednesday, the French Foreign Ministry expressed its concern over the Revolutionary Guards’ announcement of a new ballistic missile, stressing Paris’ determination to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“This is yet another breach of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. These activities come amid the continued escalation of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programs. We remain fully mobilized to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons,” the ministry said in a statement.
The British Foreign Office said that Iran’s announcement “further proves its continued disregard of international restrictions and the grave threat posed by the regime to global security.”
“Alongside partners, the UK remains committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to hold the regime to account for its malign activity around the world,” the statement added.
The US Treasury announced the imposition of a set of sanctions on a number of companies in China and Hong Kong for supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program. It confirmed that Chinese companies sent centrifuges, non-ferrous metals that can be used for military purposes, and electronic equipment to government branches and private companies in Iran involved in missile manufacturing and subject to sanctions.
“Today’s action reinforces our commitment to respond to activities which undermine regional stability and threaten the security of our key partners and allies,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson.
He added: “The United States will continue to target illicit transnational procurement networks that covertly support Iran’s ballistic missile production and other military programs.”
