"US bases are targets": Iran presents latest missile achievement

Amid rising tensions with the West, Iran unveils the latest development in its defense industry, a medium-range ballistic missile. The defense minister also names possible targets.

According to state media, Iran has unveiled a new ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometers. The solid-fuel rocket is "the latest Iranian achievement in the field of defense," state television reported. The broadcaster showed footage of the new weapon during an interview with Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. "If this war is started by the US or the Zionist regime, Iran will target their interests, bases, or armed forces—wherever they are and whenever deemed necessary," the minister said. "We have no hostility toward neighboring countries, but American bases are our targets," he added.

Iran calls Israel a "Zionist regime." A few hours before the Iranian Defense Minister's appearance, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Iran with retaliation for an attack on Tel Aviv airport. Following the impact of a rocket near Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday, Netanyahu wrote on X: "The Houthis' attacks originate from Iran." Israel would respond to the Houthis' attack on the main airport "at the appropriate time and place of our choosing against their Iranian terror masters." Last October, the two hostile states directly attacked each other for the first time.

Iran and the USA negotiate nuclear program

The United States and Iran have been holding talks on a new nuclear agreement for weeks, mediated by Oman. The West accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this, insisting that its nuclear program serves only civilian purposes.

In 2015, several countries, including the United States, Germany, France, and Great Britain, concluded an international nuclear agreement with Iran. This agreement stipulated that Iran would limit its nuclear activities in return for a reduction in Western sanctions imposed on it. However, during US President Donald Trump's first term in office in 2018, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the agreement and imposed new sanctions against Iran. Tehran subsequently gradually withdrew from its commitments under the agreement.

Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has been pushing for a new agreement. He has also threatened Iran with military action if the talks fail. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on Iran to halt uranium enrichment and the development of long-range ballistic missiles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also called for a complete end to Iran's nuclear program at the end of April. Any agreement with Tehran must also prevent Iran from arming itself with ballistic missiles, Netanyahu said.