Iran says improved ballistic missile shows it will take preemptive action against threats

WASHINGTON (AP) – Iran state media on Monday remarked a ballistic missile with improved capabilities was demonstrating a new doctrine: Tehran "will take action against any threat, even before it is carried out."

Key points

• When it was described as having at least a 1, 200-kilometer (745-mile) range, the missile was unveiled last year.
• Reservations concerning Iran's ballistic missile program were one of the stated reasons the U.S.
• This person boasted of new missile capability and asserted it had been "tested" against a U.S.
• On Saturday remarked ballistic missiles were rolled out at U.S.

Meanwhile, the report by Iran's state news agency repeatedly cited comments aired on state TV the day before by the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei. This person boasted of new missile capability and asserted it had been "tested" against a U.S. Warship. But it was not clear whether what was tested was the missile the new report described, the solid-fueled Qassem Basir.

For context, the U.S. On Saturday remarked ballistic missiles were rolled out at U.S. Warships and it struck three Iranian oil tankers in response. Experts called the launch a dangerous escalation, noting that until then Iran's attacks at sea had targeted commercial shipping during six months of war. The U.S. Remarked the warships evaded the attacks.

Iran's messaging in recent days has become more assertive, and Monday's report remarked the Qassem Basir marks "a turning point in Iran's defense strategy." It described the missile as having greater range and accuracy and a half-ton warhead. When it was described as having at least a 1, 200-kilometer (745-mile) range, the missile was unveiled last year.

Reservations concerning Iran's ballistic missile program were one of the stated reasons the U.S. And Israel attacked Iran early this year, sparking the war.

For now, iran says improved ballistic missile shows it will take preemptive action against remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.