World\Middle East

Iran 'successfully' launches ballistic missile, TV reports

Xinhua | Updated: 2017-09-23 16:45

TEHRAN - Iran has "successfully" launched a ballistic missile with a range of 2,000 km, the country's Press TV reported on Saturday.

The television network broadcast a footage of "the successful test-launch of the country's new ballistic missile, Khorramshahr, a few hours after it was unveiled during a military parade in the capital city of Tehran on Friday."

The report said the missile was launched late Friday, without providing further details.

The missile was unveiled on Friday morning during a military parade in Tehran attended by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and senior military officials.

With a range of 2,000 km, it is capable of carrying multiple warheads, said Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Division.

"The missile has become smaller in size (compared to other Iranian ballistic missiles) and more tactical, and it will be operational in the near future," Hajizadeh told reporters on Friday.

During the parade, Tehran also displayed other ballistic missiles, which reportedly have a range of 1,300-2,000 km.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the nuclear deal signed between Tehran and major world powers including Washington in 2015, saying that he believes Iran is violating the agreement, which restricted Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the easing of economic sanctions.

Iran has denied that its missiles would be used to carry a nuclear warhead.