29 Mar 2024
Wednesday 27 September 2017 - 10:57
Story Code : 277419

Efficient deterrence: Iran's new Khorramshahr IRBM is a response to US threats



Sputnik - Iran is determined to stand its ground, knowing that the US will only increase its pressure on a retreating opponent, Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas told Sputnik, commenting on the demonstration of Tehran's new ballistic missile which took place after Donald Trump's rant against the Islamic Republic at the UN General Assembly.




Tehran won't bow downto Washington's will, despitethe increasing pressure fromUS President Donald Trump, Emad Abshenas, an Iranian political analyst and editor-in-chief ofthe Iran Press newspaper, toldSputnik Persian, adding that the demonstration ofthe country's new "Khorramshahr" ballistic missile has come asa response toUS threats.
"Experience had shown that if a country bends underUS pressure, the Americans will do everything possible toincrease it and gain greater benefits," Abshenas explained. "Iran stands its ground and believes that it is the US that ought tofigure outits position regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan ofAction (JCPOA) [nuclear deal]: either tocarry it out, or continue torant aboutit."


Response toUS Pressure

FollowingTrump's first ever speech atthe UN General Assemblywhich contained accusations and harsh rhetoric towardIran, Tehran unveiled the Khorramshahr ballistic missile duringa military parade dedicated tothe annual Sacred Defense Week.

Abshenas highlighted that forthe sake ofdetente, Iran has long tried not totake any measures that could disturb the oppositeside, and expected the lifting ofall financial and economic sanctions inreturn.
"However, the US is not ready tofulfill its obligations," Abshenas said, adding that inaccordance withthe international agreements Iran has the right todevelop its military and defensive capabilities inresponse tothreats and sanctions.


He emphasized that Tehran wouldn't simply sit bywhile the US is arming its regional rivals: "It is clear that underthese circumstances Iran is forced tobolster its military potential toensure the balance ofpower and toprevent its opponents froma possible attack."

"Unfortunately, some people, including Mr. Trump, understand only the language [of force]," he added.

"The fact that the new missile was named 'Khorramshahr' is ofparticular importance," Abshenas pointed out, "The city ofKhorramshahr, was called a 'bloody city' afterbeing liberated inthe course ofthe Iran-Iraq war and became is a symbol ofvictory forthe Iranians."

The political analyst underscored that followingthe Iran-Iraq war (1980-88), Tehran realized the necessity todevelop its own weaponry and modernize its military arsenal.
While addressing the 72nd Regular Session ofthe UN General Assembly onSeptember 19, Trump branded the Iranian government "a corrupt dictatorship behindthe false guises ofa democracy" which exports "violence, bloodshed and chaos."


He also lambasted the P5+1 nuclear agreement as "an embarrassment tothe United States" and reiterated that the deal was "the worst and most one-sided transaction the United States has ever entered into."
Additionally, the US president dropped the hint that"oppressive regimes cannot endure forever"and that "the day will come and the people [of Iran] will face a choice" whether they want to "return totheir proud roots asa center ofcivilization, culture and wealth."


However, onSeptember 21, followinga ministerial meeting atthe UN onthe Iran nuclear agreement US Secretary ofState Rex Tillerson admitted that reports fromthe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) show thatTehran is acting incompliance withthe nuclear accord.

Iran's ballistic missile program has triggered the discontent and concerns ofother states, inparticular, the United States. Despite attempts byWashington toinclude provisions concerning ballistic missiles inthe JCPOA the proposal was not supported byother signatories.

At the end ofJuly 2017 the US imposed new sanctions onTehran targeting its ballistic missile program. Iran responded tothe US' unilateral movebyincreasing the funding ofthe program.

The Missile's Features

Abshenas pointed outthat all weapons are divided intotwo categories offensive and defensive while nuclear bombs are used byglobal powers mainly asa deterrent. He recalled that todate no one exceptthe United States has ever used an atomic weapon toattack its adversaries.

According tothe analyst, ballistic missiles belong inthe same category and are designed primarily todeter enemies.
Capable ofcarrying several warheads the missile boasts an effective range of2,000 km (1,242.7 mi) which allows the rocket toreach most ofthe states ofthe Middle East region, including Israel.


On September 23 the Press TV broadcaster reported that thenew ballistic missile Khorramshahr had been successfully tested. According tothe media outlet, the weapon was developed specially forthe Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a branch ofthe Iranian Armed Forces.

The analyst called attention tothe fact that Tehran has designed various types ofrockets, including Shahab-1 and Fateh withthe striking range of300 km; Shahab-2 (500 km); Zulfiqar (700 km); Qiyam (800 km); Shahab-3, Emad, Qader, Sejjil, Khorramshahr (2000 km) and Soumar (2500 km).

"All these missiles pose a serious threat forcountries that are plotting againstIran," Abshenas stressed. "A distinctive feature ofthe Khorramshahr rocket is that it can carry three warheads weighing upto 1800 kg."

He emphasized that aslong asother countries continue tothreaten Iran, the country will develop and demonstrate new models ofits advanced weapons, adding that it byno means violate the terms ofthe JCPOA.

In July 2015, Iran and the P5+1 group ofnations comprised ofthe United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany, signed the JCPOA, while October 18, 2015 marked Adoption Day ofthe agreement, when participants began taking steps toimplement the Iran nuclear deal commitments.

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