Iranian test of new missile called success

Iran has successfully test-fired a new generation of surface-to-surface missile with a range of about 2,000 kilometers, the Iranian defense minister announced yesterday. The missiles, which reportedly can reach anywhere in Israel, use solid fuel, making them more accurate than predecessors.

Mostafa Mohammed Najjar said on state television that the Sajjil was a high-speed missile manufactured at the Iranian Aerospace department of the Defense Ministry.

The official IRNA news agency said the test was conducted yesterday while television showed the missile being fired Wednesday from a launching pad in a desert region.

This missile is a two-stage weapon with two combined solid-fuel engines and has an extraordinarily high capability, the television quote Najjar as saying.

Uzi Rubin, an expert on missiles who used to be among the Israeli Defense Ministry's senior most authorities in the field, said the new weapons does attest to the existence of "an impressive technological capability" in Iran, but will not have a dramatic effect on Israel or the balance of power in the Middle East.

"For Israel, it matters little whether Iran has a newer missile to replace the Shihab-III because they are both capable of hitting anywhere in Israel and both can be intercepted by Israel's missile defense system, Arrow," Rubin said. In his statement, Najjar said the missile was a defensive weapon and not a response to threats against Iran. He didn't name any country but Israel has recently threatened to take military action against Iran to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.

"This missile test was conducted within the framework of a defensive, deterrent strategy ... and specifically with defensive objectives," Najjar added.