Global Arab Network | US confirms - Iran launches a long-range missile

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US confirms - Iran launches a long-range missile

Iran has test-launched a missile with a range of up to 2,000km, putting Israel, US bases in the Middle East and parts of Europe within striking distance. The successful test was announced by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, as his campaigning for the June 12 presidential election has officially started.

"... we launched a Sejil-2 missile, which is a two-stage missile and it has reached the intended target," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in the northern city of Semnan, close to the launch site.

Analysts say the range of the surface-to-surface Sejil 2 missile is between 1,200km and 2,000km.

After the launch of a modified version of an advanced ballistic missile by Iran, a US defense official confirms the success of the Iranian mission.

Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, confirmed that the launch had taken place. "It appears the test was a success," one official said. "It appears they launched a medium-range missile."

According to Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, the new version of the advanced surface-to-surface missile, Sejjil -- dubbed Sejjil-2 -- has a longer range than that of Shahab-3.

The Shahab-3 reportedly has a range of up to 1,250 miles (2000 kilometers) and is capable of carrying a 1,000-760 kilogram warhead.

Earlier in November, Iran test-fired the Sejjil missile which came with two engines stacked on top of one another.

The solid-fuel, two-stage Sejjil missile with two engines, is capable of reaching a very high altitude and therefore has a longer range than that of the Shahab-3 model.

The solid fuel used in the Sejjil-2 missile provides the possibility of its mass storage, Brig. Gen. Moammad-Najjar told Press TV on Wednesday.

The newly-developed surface-to-surface Sejjil-2 missile is an addition to Iran's missile unit, complementing the long-range Shahab-3 ballistic missile along with Zelzal and Fateh.

Iran's missile launch left US administration officials tight-lipped on Wednesday. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in an appearance before a Senate panel, said Washington opposes Tehran obtaining a nuclear weapons capability.

"A nuclear armed Iran with a deliverable weapon system is going to spark an arms race in the Middle East," Clinton said.

Under the claim that Iran's nuclear program poses a threat to the region, the US defense industry has actively engaged in cutting billion-dollar military deals with the Persian Gulf littoral states.

Ahmadinejad, whose moderate challengers in the June 12 vote accuse him of isolating Iran with his anti-Western speeches, said the country had the power to send any attacker "to hell".

The launch came within hours of Iran's constitutional watchdog approving four leading candidates to stand in the election.

Ahmadinejad will seek re-election alongside moderate challengers Mirhossein Mousavi, Iran's former prime minister, Mehdi Karoubi, the former parliament speaker and Mohsen Rezai, the former head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

The four candidates were approved after being screened for their allegiance to Iran's Islamic government system and "absolute obedience" to the country's most senior authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

More than 450 hopefuls had registered out of which 42 were women. No women passed a test to stand in the election. (UPI, AP, Reuters, Press TV)

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