Iran recently revealed new nuclear-capable, medium-range ballistic missiles during military parades over the weekend.
Experts say the missiles share similarities to technology coming out of North Korea and its missile program, The Washington Free Beacon reported.
Iran held a military parade wherein they unveiled a new homemade nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. https://t.co/BAO7O0u84V
— UANI (@UANI) February 13, 2018
The missiles can reportedly strike Israel even if they are fired from Iran.
Fars News Agency, Iran’s unofficial state-run media, reported that Qadr and Fajr 5 missiles were displayed in Tehran, as well as the newer, short-range anti-armor Toufan 2-M missile.
The Qadr is the homemade ballistic missile that could reach Israel – it has a firing range of 2,000 meters, or nearly 1,243 miles.
“The missile can carry different types of ‘Blast’ and ‘MRV’ (Multiple Reentry Vehicle) payloads to destroy a range of targets,” Fars reported. “The new version of Qadr H can be launched from mobile platforms or silos in different positions and can escape missile defense shields due to their radar-evading capability.”
This doesn’t necessarily bode well for Israel, as tensions between the two countries run high, and Iran continues to fund terrorist organizations that are situated near Israel’s border.
Iran will never stop, unless we stop them. Time is running out. https://t.co/QykM6K06N6
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) February 12, 2018
The Iranian people late last year spoke up and protested the Iranian regime.
Protests began on Dec. 28, 2017, in Iran’s second largest city and one of Iran’s holiest places, Mashhad, due to the country’s high inflation, economic policies and economic inequality, and unemployment. The protests spread across the country, and the movement’s message turned more toward regime change.
Despite the movement having calmed, there are still reports surfacing of protestors having been tortured and possibly even killed while in custody. And, many of those Iranians in custody are being held without charges against them.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of Iran’s Armed Forces, has said protestors should cease their actions. The IRGC has also come out and tried to say the protests are over, but it is clear the Iranian people are still speaking out. U.S. President Donald Trump has called the IRGC a “corrupt personal terror force.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has recognized the people’s right to peacefully protest but warned that security forces would not tolerate vandalism and chaos. And, the grave penalty for speaking out against the Iranian government is death, if convicted.
President Trump and the White House supported the protestors, and they have criticized the Iranian government for sponsoring terrorist groups around the Middle East. Trump also warned that he and the United States are watching for human rights violations, and that the U.S. could impose sanctions if such violations occur.
Trump has criticized Iran and called the country out for funding terrorists and creating a dangerous missile arsenal. The President has also pointed to the Iran nuclear deal that was drawn up in 2015, calling it “one of the worst” and “the most one-sided transaction the United States has ever entered into.”
Trump said the “rogue regime” of Iran is only perpetuating terrorism around the world, and is becoming more aggressive in doing so.
“The Iranian dictatorship […] remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism,” the President has said, saying the regime provides assistance to al-Qaida, the Taliban, Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorists.
Despite this, Trump recently upheld Iran nuclear deal, which means the U.S. will continue waiving nuclear-related economic sanctions on Iran.
The sanctions were lifted per the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement, which Trump has called “one of the worst” and “the most one-sided transaction the United States has ever entered into.”
