Iran has secretly tested a new long-range missile, Israel’s intelligence services said.
The Ashoura missile, whose construction was announced by Iran’s Defense Ministry on Nov. 27, was also secretly test-fired that day, Israeli media reported Thursday, citing intelligence sources.
The fanfare in Tehran over the weapon, which boasts a range of 1,250 miles because of a solid-fuel engine, suggested the test was a success.
Israeli commentators noted that the Ashoura was made public on the day of the Annapolis peace conference, an indication of Iran’s desire to flex its muscles in the face of moderate Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ efforts to achieve coexistence with the Jewish state.
The Ashoura joins the Shihab-3 in the arsenal of Iranian missiles capable of reaching Israel, U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf and some European capitals – potentially with nuclear warheads.
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