Iranian state media claim that the country already has the technology to develop supersonic cruise missiles.
The announcement, as reported by Reuters, comes days after the reported arrival of more than 3,000 U.S. sailors and Marines aboard two U.S. warships in the Red Sea to deter Iran from seizing and harassing merchant ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.
«The supersonic cruise missile will open a new chapter in Iran’s defence programme, as it is extremely difficult to intercept a cruise missile flying at supersonic speeds,» the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
«The new cruise missile is currently undergoing its tests.»
Despite U.S. and European opposition and sanctions, Tehran will continue to develop its missile program, which it describes as «defensive». Iran, which has one of the largest missile programs in the Middle East, claims that its weapons are capable of reaching Israel as well as U.S. bases in the region.
Concerns about Iran’s ballistic missiles contributed to then-U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision in 2018 to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear pact reached between Tehran with six major powers to halt the program its uranium enrichment, and re-impose sanctions on Tehran.
Indirect talks between Tehran and the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden to save the nuclear deal have been stalled since last September.
See also: As tensions with Iran escalate, USAF deploys F-35 stealth fighters in the region
Faced with escalating tensions in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which led to attacks and the capture of several commercial oil tankers of different flag nationalities, the Pentagon decided to send a squadron of USAF F-35s to deter Iran’s aggressive actions.
