Devendra Kumar
Iran has showcased its latest iteration of the liquid-fuelled Khorramshahr ballistic missile, amid heightened tensions with the West over its nuclear program. The missile, dubbed the Khorramshahr-4, was displayed to journalists at an event in Tehran, where it was showcased on a truck-mounted launcher. Iranian Defence Minister General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani claimed the missile could be prepared for launch in a short period, and boasted of its 1,240-mile range and 1,500kg warhead.
The Khorramshahr-4 is named after an Iranian city that was the site of intense fighting during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, and also bears the moniker Kheibar, referencing a Jewish fortress conquered by Muslims in the seventh century. The missile’s range would potentially allow it to strike Israel, a country viewed by Iran as its archenemy. Iran has a history of arming militant groups in the Palestinian territories and surrounding regions, further exacerbating the already tense situation.
A miniature model of the golden Dome of the Rock on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a sacred site for both Islam and Judaism, was displayed next to the mobile launcher, a move that is likely intended to emphasize Iran’s commitment to its allies in the region. The Khorramshahr-4 is modelled after North Korea’s Musudan ballistic missile, and Iranian officials have not provided clear explanation for the “4” designation, as only two previous variants of the missile are publicly known.
The revealing of the Khorramshahr-4 has drawn a strong response from the US state department, which claimed that Iran’s development and proliferation of ballistic missiles poses a serious threat to regional and international security. The tensions between Iran and the West, specifically over its nuclear program, are likely to remain a major point of contention in the coming weeks and months.