Iran Unveils New Medium-Range Ballistic Missile

Facts

• In an event open to journalists in Tehran on Thursday, Iranian officials unveiled what was described as the latest version of its liquid-fueled Khorramshahr ballistic missile amid rising tensions with the West over its nuclear program.¹
• Iranian state media later reported that the Khorramshahr-4, or Kheibar, ballistic missile was successfully test-launched, with state TV broadcasting a few seconds of footage allegedly showing the firing.²
• The medium-range, precision-guided Kheibar has a reported range of 2K km and is able to carry a 1.5K-kg warhead while reaching speeds of 8 Mach within the atmosphere and 16 Mach outside.³
• Iran has one of the biggest missile programs in the Middle East, and is allegedly able to reach Israeli and US bases in the region, with Tehran claiming its ballistic missiles are a deterrent and retaliatory force against its foes.⁴
• The announcement comes days after Israeli top officials warned that Israel, which is within range of the missile, would soon be forced to act against the Iranian nuclear program.⁵
• Talks to restore the 2015 Iranian Nuclear Deal, from which the US withdrew under former Pres. Donald Trump, have stalled since September as the West worries about Tehran's nuclear progress.⁶

Sources: ¹Washington Post, ²Reuters, ³Tasnim News Agency, ⁴Iran International, ⁵The Times of Israel, and ⁶Sky News.

Narratives

• Pro-Iran narrative, as provided by Tehran Times. The Kheibar missile, which requires a short preparation time and can be launched in less than 12 minutes, is just the latest achievement of Tehran to bolster its defense capabilities. Iran is committed to helping secure regional peace and stability as well as protecting peaceful countries that oppose the West's system of domination.
• Anti-Iran narrative, as provided by New York Times. In addition to having the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East, Iran has been investing heavily in its ballistic missile program to expand their range and enhance their accuracy. These provocative developments are even more threatening given that such projectiles can be used to deliver a potential nuclear warhead as Tehran ramps up its nuclear program.

Predictions