Iran test-fires ballistic missiles in military drill

Tehran, March 8: Iran on Tuesday test fired several ballistic missiles in the ongoing military drill attended by the senior commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

The drill, conducted in different parts of the country, was aimed at enhancing the deterrent power of the Islamic republic in the face of threats against the revolution and the territorial integrity of Iran.

In October, Iran announced it "successfully" test-fired the country's first long-range missile of Emad, which could be guided and controlled till hitting the target with high precision, Xinhua reported.

In December, a UN experts' report said Iran violated the UN Security Council Resolution 1929 by test-firing the Emad missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.

The UN report said the Emad ballistic missile has a range of "no less than 1,000 km with a payload of at least 1,000 kg."

Under Resolution 1929, Iran is prohibited from working on ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear war heads.

However, Iran's Defence Minister Hossein Dehqan rejected the report, saying that the Emad missile is "totally conventional".

Iran is believed to have the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East and has developed a 2,000 km missile.

IANS