Latest news with #GhassemBasir
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Iran Unveils New Ballistic Missile With 1,200 Km Range Amid Houthi Attacks
Tehran: Iran on Sunday unveiled a new solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometres (745 miles), state television reported, at a time of rising tensions with the West. "The solid propellant Ghassem Basir ballistic missile has a range of at least 1,200 kilometres and is Iran's latest defence achievement," the broadcaster said. Western nations have raised concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities, accusing it of destabilising the Middle East. Iran supports the "axis of resistance" network of groups opposed to Israel, including Yemen's Huthi rebels, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Shiite armed groups in Iraq. In October last year, Iran and its sworn enemy Israel attacked each other directly for the first time. Israel struck military sites in Iran in response to an Iranian missile attack on October 1, itself launched in retaliation for the killing of Iran-backed leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander. On Sunday, Iranian state television broadcast footage of the new missile during an interview with Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. "If we are attacked and war is waged against us, we will respond with force and will target their interests and their bases," Nasirzadeh said. "We hold no animosity towards neighbouring states, but American bases are our targets," he said. The new missile was shown after Tehran and Washington held Oman-mediated talks on Iran's nuclear programme on three consecutive Saturdays from April 12. They were the highest level contacts since the United States withdrew in 2018 from a landmark agreement with world powers on Iran's nuclear programme. On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview with Fox News called on Iran to "walk away" from uranium enrichment, saying "the only countries in the world that enrich uranium are the ones that have nuclear weapons". On April 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a credible deal must "remove Iran's capacity to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons" and prevent the development of ballistic missiles. Tehran denies seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, insisting that its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful and for civilian purposes. It has ruled out discussions with Washington on its military and defence capabilities, including its ballistic missile programme. US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran if diplomacy fails and has imposed additional sanctions targeting the country's oil sector.
The National
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Iran unveils new ballistic missile and vows to respond if attacked
Iran on Sunday unveiled a new ballistic missile and vowed to respond if attacked, at a time of rising tensions with the US and Israel over Tehran's allied militant groups in the region. The new solid-fuel Ghassem Basir ballistic missile has a range of 1,200km and is 'immune' against THAAD and Patriot air defences used by the US and Israel, Iran's state broadcaster claimed. Western countries have repeatedly voiced their concerns over Iran's missile and nuclear capabilities, accusing it of destabilising the region by supporting its 'axis of resistance' network of militant groups in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and Yemen. Iranian state television broadcast the footage of the new missile during an interview with Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh who vowed to respond if the country were to come under attack. 'If we are attacked and war is waged against us, we will respond with force and will target their interests and their bases,' Mr Nasirzadeh said. 'We hold no animosity towards neighbouring states, but American bases are our targets.' The renewed threats come after three rounds of talks mediated by Oman between the US and Iran. They were the highest level contacts since the UN withdrew in 2018 from a landmark agreement with world powers on Iran's nuclear programme. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Tehran had agreed to limit its nuclear programme − which it says is for civilian purposes − in exchange for sanctions relief. A fourth round was scheduled in Rome on May 3 but was postponed due to logistical reasons, according to Oman and Iran. 'Unfortunately, we are witnessing that, on the one hand, American officials state that they are honest and willing to negotiate, and on the other hand, some American officials regularly and through various means threaten the Islamic Republic with a military attack,' Mr Nasirzadeh said. Last week, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran against supporting the Houthis, saying Tehran 'will pay the consequence at the time and place of our choosing'. 'Message to Iran: We see your lethal support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,' Mr Hegseth wrote on X. Mr Hegseth, on his personal X account, later reposted a message from Donald Trump from March in which the US President said he would hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the Houthi group. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday also said in an interview with Fox News that Iran must cease sponsoring militant groups and Yemen's Houthi rebels, stop 'building long-range missiles that have no purpose to exist other than having nuclear weapons, and they have to walk away from enrichment'. Iran's leader has previously said the Houthis act independently. The renewed threats come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond to the Houthis, as well as to their Iranian backers, for a missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport, south-east of Tel Aviv, on Sunday. In a video published on Telegram, Mr Netanyahu said Israel had 'acted against' the Iran-backed rebels in the past and 'will act in the future'. 'It will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs,' he added, without elaborating. Later on X, Mr Netanyahu said Israel would also respond to Iran at 'a time and place of our choosing'.
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Iran unveils new ballistic missile with 1,200 km range
In this handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency on February 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (C) visits a defence and space achievements exhibition in Tehran. PHOTO:AFP Iran on Sunday unveiled a new solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometres (745 miles), state television reported, at a time of rising tensions with the West. "The solid propellant Ghassem Basir ballistic missile has a range of at least 1,200 kilometres and is Iran's latest defence achievement," the broadcaster said. On Sunday, Iranian state television broadcast footage of the new missile during an interview with Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. "If we are attacked and war is waged against us, we will respond with force and will target their interests and their bases," Nasirzadeh said. "We hold no animosity towards neighbouring states, but American bases are our targets," he said. The new missile was shown after Tehran and Washington held Oman-mediated talks on Iran's nuclear programme on three consecutive Saturdays from April 12. AFP
Business Recorder
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Iran unveils new ballistic missile with 1,200km range
TEHRAN: Iran on Sunday unveiled a new solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometres (745 miles), state television reported, at a time of rising tensions with the West. 'The solid propellant Ghassem Basir ballistic missile has a range of at least 1,200 kilometres and is Iran's latest defence achievement,' the broadcaster said. Western nations have raised concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities, accusing it of destabilising the Middle East. Iran supports the 'axis of resistance' network of groups opposed to Israel, including Yemen's Huthi rebels, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Shiite armed groups in Iraq. On Sunday, Iranian state television broadcast footage of the new missile during an interview with Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. 'If we are attacked and war is waged against us, we will respond with force and will target their interests and their bases,' Nasirzadeh said. 'We hold no animosity towards neighbouring states, but American bases are our targets,' he said.
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Iran unveils new ballistic missile with 1,200 km range
TEHRAN: Iran on Sunday unveiled a new solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometres (745 miles), state television reported, at a time of rising tensions with the West. 'The solid propellant Ghassem Basir ballistic missile has a range of at least 1,200 kilometres and is Iran's latest defence achievement,' the broadcaster said. Western nations have raised concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities, accusing it of destabilising the Middle East. Iran supports the 'axis of resistance' network of militant groups opposed to Israel, including Yemen's Huthi rebels, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Shiite armed groups in Iraq. In October last year, Iran and its sworn enemy Israel attacked each other directly for the first time. Israel struck military sites in Iran in response to an Iranian missile attack on October 1, itself launched in retaliation for the killing of Iran-backed militant leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander. On Sunday, Iranian state television broadcast footage of the new missile during an interview with Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. 'If we are attacked and war is waged against us, we will respond with force and will target their interests and their bases,' Nasirzadeh said. 'We hold no animosity towards neighbouring states, but American bases are our targets,' he said. The new missile was shown after Tehran and Washington held Oman-mediated talks on Iran's nuclear programme on three consecutive Saturdays from April 12. They were the highest level contacts since the United States withdrew in 2018 from a landmark agreement with world powers on Iran's nuclear programme. On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview with Fox News called on Iran to 'walk away' from uranium enrichment, saying 'the only countries in the world that enrich uranium are the ones that have nuclear weapons'. On April 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a credible deal must 'remove Iran's capacity to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons' and prevent the development of ballistic missiles. Tehran denies seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, insisting that its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful and for civilian purposes. It has ruled out discussions with Washington on its military and defence capabilities, including its ballistic missile programme. US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran if diplomacy fails and has imposed additional sanctions targeting the country's oil sector.
