Iran on Wednesday reportedly test-fired two ballistic missiles inscribed with the wording “Israel must be wiped off the earth” in Hebrew. The missile test comes in the aftermath of the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, an agreement that Israel vehemently opposes due to Iran’s hostile attitude towards the Jewish state and its funding of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah.
The semi-official Iranian Fars news agency published pictures claiming to show the Qadr H missiles being fired in Iran’s eastern Alborz mountain range at a target some 1,400 kilometres away off Iran’s coast in the Sea of Oman.
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s aerospace division, said the test was intended to show Israel that Iran has the capability to hit it, Fars reported.
“The 1,240-mile [1,995 kilometres] range of our missiles is to confront the Zionist regime,” Hajizadeh said. “Israel is surrounded by Islamic countries and it will not last long in a war. It will collapse even before being hit by these missiles.”
This missile launch comes shortly after the launch of several other missiles by the Islamic Republic, which was criticized by the U.S. State Department.
“If confirmed, we intend to raise the matter in the UN Security Council. We will also encourage a serious review of the incident and press for an appropriate response. This development underscores why we continue to work closely with partners around the world to slow and degrade Iran’s missile program,” Deputy State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Tuesday, CBS News reported.