Report: IRGC Navy Has New Missiles with Highly Explosive Warheads

A cleric stands next to a poster depicting slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at Tehran's Palestine square on August 8, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
A cleric stands next to a poster depicting slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at Tehran's Palestine square on August 8, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
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Report: IRGC Navy Has New Missiles with Highly Explosive Warheads

A cleric stands next to a poster depicting slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at Tehran's Palestine square on August 8, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
A cleric stands next to a poster depicting slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at Tehran's Palestine square on August 8, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) navy has new cruise missiles equipped with highly explosive warheads that are undetectable, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Friday.

"A large number of cruise missiles have been added to the Guards' navy fleet. These new missiles have capabilities of highly explosive warheads that are undetectable and can cause extensive damage and sink their targets," Tasnim said.

Regional tensions have increased following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by a presumed Israeli strike in Tehran a day after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed Fuad Shukr, a senior military commander from Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Iran has vowed to avenge the July 31 explosion that killed Haniyeh, which was widely blamed on Israel, raising fears of a regional war. Israel has not said whether it was involved.

Hezbollah has also vowed to retaliate against Israel for the strike that killed Shukr in Beirut “no matter the consequences."

"In today's world you either have to be powerful to survive, or surrender. There's no middle ground," said the Guards' top commander, Major-General Hossein Salami.
The Guards' navy also said in a statement that various types of long and medium range missile systems, as well as reconnaissance drones and naval radars, have been added to its fleet.

"These systems are among the most up-to-date anti-surface and sub-surface weapons in the Guards' navy," it said.
State television displayed several of the weapons on Friday. The navy added that only 210 of the 2,654 systems were shown as it was not possible to unveil other strategic ones for security reasons.



Beijing Complains to Tokyo about ‘Negative’ China References in Japan, US Communique

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a picture with US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a picture with US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters)
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Beijing Complains to Tokyo about ‘Negative’ China References in Japan, US Communique

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a picture with US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a picture with US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, US, February 7, 2025. (Reuters)

China's foreign ministry said on Monday it had complained to Japan over "negative" references to China in a statement issued after a meeting between the leaders of Japan and the United States.

The "stern representations" and "strong dissatisfaction" was conveyed by the Department of Asian Affairs Director-General Liu Jinsong to the Japanese embassy's Chargé d'Affaires in Beijing, who explained to Liu Japan's position and reiterated the country's stance on its various concerns.

The embassy's statement did not elaborate on the discussions.

US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held their first meeting last week in Washington.

According to a joint statement released by the White House, the two leaders expressed views opposing China's military actions in the South and East China Seas.

They also called for "maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait", and voiced support for "Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations."

Asked about the joint statement, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun accused it of "attacking and discrediting" China and said it was "open interference in China's internal affairs". The statement exacerbated regional tensions, he added.

"We urge the United States and Japan to abide by the one-China principle and their own commitments and immediately stop interfering in China's internal affairs," Guo said.

China views democratically-ruled Taiwan its own territory, and has staged several rounds of war games around the island in recent years to pressure Taipei.

Taiwan's government, which strongly objects to Beijing's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future, welcomed the joint Japan-US communique.

"We will remain steadfast in cooperating with the US, Japan and other global partners to advance regional peace and prosperity," President Lai Ching-te said in a post on X.