Iran Claims Successful Test of New Missile
Iran claims to have successfully tested-fired a new missile that would greatly improve the accuracy of current Iranian defenses. These new missiles have been named “Sajjil” after a story in the Koran where God sends a flock of birds to defend Mecca from an enemy army. These “Sajjil” use the technology of solid fuel, which makes these surface-to-surface missiles more accurate than the liquid fuel missiles that Iran currently possesses. Iranian defense minister Mostafa Mohammed Najjar claims that these new missiles have the power to reach a target 1,200 miles away, which includes Israel and some of Europe. Israel is a country with which Iran and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have a long history of antagonism; Ahmadinejad has been reported stating he would like to “wipe Israel off the map.” Israel has recently stated that they may take military action to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, though Najjar did not mention Israel or any other specific nation as one to be reckoned with. While Najjar insists these missiles have been developed solely for the purposes of defense, the hostile nature of Iran has the international community skeptical of claims that the weapons are not a response to any threats against Iran. Ahmadinejad’s proclamation that “should any power stand against the Iranian nation, the Iranian people will crush it under its foot and will strike it on the mouth” does not provide any comfort either.
Kayla Cahoon
