The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has for the first time test-fired a Zolfaqar-class ballistic missile from one of its warships.
The projectile, the latest joint achievement of the IRGC Navy and the IRGC Aerospace Force, successfully struck its designated target in the Kavir Desert in central Iran.
The IRGC Navy released the footage of the launch on Tuesday and said the missile, with a range of 750 kilometers, was fired from Shahid Mahdavi aircraft carrier.
With the new capability of launching missiles from vessels and the firing of Zolfaqar, the IRGC warships will henceforth be able to carry various types of ballistic missiles with a range of up to 1,750 kilometers.
Shahid Mahdavi aircraft carrier is the IRGC’s oceangoing warship, which is 150 meters long and weighs 4,000 tons. The warship is a multipurpose vessel for long-range operations and is furnished with missiles, air defense systems, and radars.
IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami announced a day earlier that the long-range ballistic missile had been successfully launched in a coordinated mission involving the IRGC Navy and Aerospace Force.
Salami said the new achievement had extended the IRGC’s range of influence and naval power up to any desired spot in the world.
“Our oceangoing warships can be present in every location across the world, and when we can fire missiles from them, there is accordingly no safe spot for anyone intending to create insecurity for us,” the IRGC chief stated.
Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient.
Iranian officials say the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense.
Iran has made it clear that its defense capabilities are not subject to negotiation. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran’s defense capabilities.
