Tehran, May 6 – Iran’s defense ministry unveiled a new solid-fueled ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometers on Sunday, state television reported, as tensions escalate with the United States and Israel over Tehran’s nuclear program and regional conflicts.
The missile, named “Qassem Basir”, was presented during an interview with Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, who said it incorporates enhanced guidance and maneuverability features, enabling it to evade anti-ballistic missile systems.
“The missile can identify and strike a designated target among multiple ones without GPS guidance and with pinpoint accuracy,” Nasirzadeh said. State TV footage showed the missile during the broadcast, and officials said it had most recently been tested on April 17.
The announcement follows increased friction in the region after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday, marking a significant escalation in hostilities. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against both the Houthis and their Iranian supporters.
Nasirzadeh rejected U.S. accusations of Iranian involvement in the Houthi attack. “Yemen is an independent nation making its own decisions,” he said, dismissing what he called efforts by Washington to “link Iran to the conflict.”
The missile unveiling also comes days after U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned Iran via a social media post about its continued support for the Houthis. In response, Nasirzadeh warned that if war is initiated by the United States or Israel, Iran would strike their “interests, bases, and forces wherever they are and whenever necessary.”
“We have no hostility toward neighboring countries and seek brotherly relations,” he added, “but in the event of an attack, U.S. bases in the region will be considered legitimate targets.” Iran’s missile program was developed in the aftermath of Iraqi missile strikes during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war and has since been a cornerstone of its military strategy, particularly as arms embargoes have limited access to modern aircraft.
Meanwhile, indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, scheduled for May 3 in Rome, have been postponed, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry. The delay was requested by Oman’s foreign minister, who has been mediating the negotiations. A new date has not yet been set.
The diplomatic stalemate comes amid growing Western concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Tehran’s stockpile has reportedly reached levels close to weapons-grade purity, raising fears that Iran could seek to develop a nuclear weapon if negotiations fail.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities should diplomacy break down.
