Iran pushes to increase ballistic-missile range to cover Europe

And you can bet that Iran will soon increase it’s ballistic-missile range to cover the United States, especially after the Biden Administration re-enters the JCPOA. An agreement that will enable Iran to manufacture nukes in the years ahead. Where the heck is the Republican Party on this? They should be publicly demanding that the Biden Administration end the sham nuke negotiations with Iran, and re-impose the Trump economic sanctions with full force.

Iran pushes to increase ballistic-missile range to cover Europe

Through the recent engine tests and the launch of satellites at the end of December—in the midst of nuclear negotiations—Tehran has made it clear that it does not intend to compromise on the issue of missile development.

By JNS, January 30, 2022

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(January 26, 2022 / Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) While negotiations in Vienna on the nuclear issue continue sluggishly without a breakthrough, Iran continues to exert pressure and threaten the negotiating partners. Moreover, Iran is more than just implying that it has other options if no arrangement is reached, including linking the advanced nuclear capabilities it has reached in the past year and its ballistic missiles that could reach Europe.

A conservative Iranian newspaper close to the regime recently reported that a solid-fuel engine tested in Iran could increase Iranian missile range to 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles), threatening European countries. The newspaper also praised President Ebrahim Raisi’s government, which, unlike its predecessor, exhibits an uncompromising negotiating position with the West, particularly where developing Iran’s missile capabilities is concerned.

Through the recent engine tests and the launch of satellites at the end of December—in the midst of nuclear negotiations—Iran has made it clear that it does not intend to compromise on the issue of missile development.

The new engine, composite rocket, and a 3,000-mile range

Iran’s Farhikhtegan newspaper reported on Jan. 15 that Iran aspires to increase its ballistic-missile range and that its development of a 5,000-km. (3,000-mile)-range missile is “closer than ever.”

The newspaper, which belongs to the Open University (Azad-e-Islami) and is associated with the conservatives of the Iranian regime, quoted recent remarks by Brig.-Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Corps. The paper interpreted his remarks as an indication that Iran plans to increase its range of ballistic missiles.

Hajizadeh announced a “successful test” of a new Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) engine called the “Raafe.”⁹ He appeared before clerics in Qoms and said that over the past two years, a series of tests had been carried out on a solid-fueled satellite launcher rocket.

He also revealed that the body of the new satellite launcher is of composite design, not metallic.¹⁰ The design and removal of liquid fuel pumps lighten the rocket, allowing for longer ranges or larger payloads. He added that Iran’s aviation and missile ability could not be curbed through “assassinations, threats and sanctions.”

According to Farhikhtegan, the test indicates significant progress in the missile field. The newspaper added that although Iran has announced that it does not want to build ballistic missiles with a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles), the new engine could allow it to pass that range and even approach the 5,000-km. (3,000-mile) range.

The newspaper recalled 2017 remarks by Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of the IRGC, to the Europeans that if they wanted to bring the issue of Iran’s missile capability into the nuclear talks, Tehran could increase its missile range so that the range would cover the distance between Iran and Europe.

The United States considers Iran’s satellite launchers to be a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which was approved in July 2015. According to the resolution, Iran was “called upon” not to take any action involving ballistic missiles “designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.”

Iran’s space programs, which were “dormant” under former President Hassan Rouhani, were accelerated as part of the Iranian response to the U.S. exit from the nuclear deal and now also serve as leverage for pressure on the West during the nuclear talks.

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