TEHRAN: Iran revealed a new ballistic missile that it said was capable of travelling 1,700 kilometres, unveiling it at a Tehran ceremony attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian.

State television broadcast images of the missile, dubbed Etemad, or "trust" in Persian, noting its range and calling it "the most recent ballistic missile" built by the Iranian defence ministry.

Western countries have grown concerned over advances in Iran's ballistic missile programme, accusing it of destabilising the Middle East.

Iran's missiles, including this newest design, are capable of reaching its arch-foe Israel, which it targeted twice last year as the Gaza conflict spilled over.

"The development of defence capabilities and space technologies ... aims to ensure that no country dares to attack Iranian territory," Pezeshkian said in a televised address.

Three domestically produced satellites were also presented at the ceremony: a roughly 34-kilogramme communications model called Navak, as well as updated versions of the Pars-1 and Pars-2.

Iran, which once sourced the majority of its military equipment from its then-ally the United States, has been forced to develop its own weaponry since Washington cut off ties and imposed sanctions in the wake of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 03 2025

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