[image: Iran unveils next generation missile: media]link
TEHRAN – Iran unveiled a next generation short-range ballistic missile onMonday and vowed to further boost its capabilities, Iranian media said, ata time of rising tensions with the United States.
State broadcaster IRIB said the new Fateh Mobin missile had “successfullypassed its tests” and could strike targets on land and sea.
“As promised to our dear people, we will not spare any effort to increasethe missile capabilities of the country and we will certainly increase ourmissile power every day,” Defence Minister Amir Hatami said, quoted byconservative news agency Tasnim.
The new missile’s range was not given, but previous versions had a range ofaround 200 to 300 kilometres, according to the US-based Center forStrategic and International Studies.
US officials told Fox News last week that a “Fateh-110 missile” wastest-fired by Iran during naval exercises in the Strait of Hormoz last week.
A US general described the exercises as designed to send a message,following threats from Iran that it could shut down the vital, oil-shippingwaterway in retaliation for renewed sanctions.
“Nothing can stop this missile because of its high degree of flexibility,”said Hatami, adding that the new version of the Fateh Mobin was”100-percent domestically made… agile, stealth, tactical (and)precision-guided”.
“Be sure that the greater the pressures and psychological warfare againstthe great nation of Iran, our will to enhance our defence power in allfields will increase,” he added.
President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran andworld powers in May.
Iran´s missile programme is a major bone of contention, particularly withthe United States and its allies, but is seen as vital by Iran to itsdefensive posture in a troubled region.