Iranian government officials flaunted the existence of their newest underground missile cache Tuesday, disregarding threats of new sanctions from the U.S. in response to Iran’s recent missile tests.
The Iranian Republican Guards Corps (IRGC) proudly announced the new “missile city” on state and local media, reports Tasnim News Agency. The announcement comes as IRGC second-in-command Gen. Hossein Salami boasted Friday Iran’s caches are so packed to the brim with missiles, they no longer know where to put them all.
“The facility isn’t new, but it is a reminder that Iran has a large and active ballistic missile program that remains a threat to other regional states,” says Jeffrey Lewis, an arms control expert based at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, to The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Iran unveils 2nd underground site, storing Emad missile – Tasnim News Agency… https://t.co/zBdpfwtGaV – BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/eOx3SFlXg0
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One of the weapons the facility will store is the Emad missile, Iran’s latest and most advanced missile. Iran has tested the missile twice in October and December of last year, violating a U.N. ban on missile testing. It is believed the Emad has a range of 1,180 miles, putting it within the range of several major Middle East population centers including parts of southern Europe. It is also believed that the missile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Salami claimed the missile has pinpoint accuracy and zero margin of error in its targeting.
“This is the second similar facility that Iran has shown off in the past few months,” says Lewis. Both announcements have come after the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, otherwise known as the Iran nuclear deal, which places limits on Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Lewis notes that the deal provides for the lifting of U.N. missile-related sanctions after eight years.
In response to Iran’s missile tests, the Obama administration announced a new round of sanctions on various entities which have allegedly aided Iran in missile procurement. (RELATED: Obama To Announce New Sanctions On Iran’s Missile Program)
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