As Iran beefs up its military hardware, an Iranian commander has claimed Tehran is in possession of a missile capable of striking Israel.
Last week, the Iranian military conducted a parade throughthe capital ofTehran, displaying a wide variety oftanks, warplanes, and missiles. According toBrigadier General Amirali Hajizadeh, commander ofthe Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Division, one ofthose missiles is capable ofstriking Israel, roughly 764 miles away.
"The Zionist regime is our biggest target," he said, according tothe Jerusalem Post.
"We do not need missiles witha range ofover 2,000 kilometers. The longest range required for [Irans] missiles is the [Israeli] occupied lands." Last week, Hajizadeh claimed that one ofthe missiles ondisplay, the Zolfaghar, had a range ofroughly 466 miles. That missile was adorned witha banner that warned againstIsraeli provocations.
"If the leaders ofthe Zionist regime make one false move, the Islamic republic will turn Tel Aviv and Haifa todust," the banner said. According toGeneral Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, chief ofstaff ofIrans armed forces, Tehran is concerned withthe recently agreed-upon military aid deal betweenthe US and Israel.
"The recent decision ofthe American criminals togive military aid tothe usurper Zionist regime reinforces our determination toincrease our defense capabilities," Bagheri said, according tothe Times ofIsrael.
Over the next ten years, Washington will supply its ally witha record $38 billion inmilitary aid.
"The ultimate objective ofthe United States, the Zionist regime and those who support terrorist groupsis todestroy the infrastructure ofSyria and Iraq infavor [of Israel]," Begheri added. Tensions have also been inflamed byrecent standoffs betweenthe Iran Revolutionary Guard and US Navy ships inthe Persian Gulf. "We tell the Americans that its better that the capital and wealth ofthe American people should not be wasted ontheir inappropriate and detrimental presence inthe Persian Gulf," said Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander ofthe Revolutionary Guard, according tothe Jerusalem Post.