As the risk of war spreading in the Middle East grows, it has been reported that Iran has expanded its ballistic missile capacity. Iranian Armed Forces Spokesperson Mohammad Ekremiya said that Tehran has started to produce missiles that exceed the range limit of approximately 2 thousand kilometers that it has announced for years. This statement marked a significant change in Iran's missile policy.
IRAN INCREASES THE RANGE OF ITS MISSILES
Ekremiya stated that the ongoing conflict with the USA has led Iran to increase its missile range.
"Iranian officials decided to increase the range of our missiles due to the ongoing conflict with the United States," Ekremiya said.
"During this conflict, we came to the conclusion that it was absolutely necessary to increase the range of our missiles, and we have already begun to do so," the Iranian official said.
For years, Iranian officials have been explaining the range limit of approximately 2 thousand kilometers as a conscious policy, not as a technological restriction. The Tehran administration also argued that European countries were not the target of Iran's missile program.
MISSILE THREAT TO EUROPE IS ON THE AGENDA
The escalation of tension between Iran, the USA and Israel has brought to the agenda again the possibility of Iran's missile capacity reaching a level that can reach Europe.
US President Donald Trump also argued that if Iran has nuclear weapons, the threat will not be limited to the Middle East.
Trump claimed that Iran could reach a capacity to target European cities. The US President also claimed that Washington's attacks on Iran are also critical for Europe.
TRUMP: IRAN CANNOT HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Trump had previously suggested that Iran could target Europe and said that Tehran would never have nuclear weapons.
The latest statement that Iran has begun to expand its missile range has brought this debate back to the agenda.
STATEMENT FROM NATO ON IRAN
NATO, on the other hand, emphasized that the alliance was prepared against possible attacks originating from Iran.
Evaluating Iran's decision to increase its missile range, which has been limited to approximately 2 thousand kilometers for years, Strategy and Security Expert İbrahim Keleş stated that this step may indicate a significant change in Iran's missile capacity and deterrence policy. Keleş stated that if Iran reaches a range of 3 thousand kilometers or more, a significant part of Europe, including France, Germany and the UK, could fall within the potential range, and he evaluated to Hürriyet.com.tr that the development could affect regional security as well as the security balances of Europe.
"THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF REACHING FRANCE, GERMANY, AND ENGLAND"
Keleş stated that Revolutionary Guard commanders have made statements in recent weeks that they have developed new missile systems and made evaluations about Iran's current missile inventory.
Keleş said, "The range of the missiles in Iran's possession is generally between 1000 and 2000 kilometers. Iran has not yet revealed the missiles it has not yet used or developed recently."
Keleş spoke as follows about the missile range increasing to 3 thousand kilometers and above:
"If Iran's high-range missiles have a range of 3000 km or more, of course they will be a threat to Europe. Especially considering that ballistic missiles and hypersonic ballistic missiles go into space, pass over space and then aim at the target again at the terminal level, let's not think of 3000 km as a road distance. There is a possibility that they can reach almost as far as France, Germany and England. In the statements made in recent weeks, the commanders of the Revolutionary Guards stated that they have developed new missiles and that they can attack their enemies. "They stated that they would not hesitate to use them."
"I DO NOT THINK THEY WILL TARGET EUROPE"
"This can of course be considered a threat to Europe as well." Keleş said, "However, I do not think that Iran will intend to do such a thing to Europe right now." he said.
Reminding that the Revolutionary Guards had previously made statements about England, Keleş said, "We should not forget a statement about England. They said that they could reach England, there is a base in England that America uses as a logistics base, they could hit there."
Keleş stated that this statement is an important indicator of Iran's missile range and said, "This means that the range of the missiles developed by Iran is 3000 km and maybe more." he said.
DIEGO GARCIA WAS TARGETED
He reminded that Iran targeted the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean during the war between the USA, Israel and Iran, and stated that the missile sent was neutralized by air defense systems:
"During the war between America, Israel and Iran, Iran also sent a missile to America's Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean. The distance between this base and Iran is approximately 4000 kilometers. This missile sent by Iran was destroyed by air defense systems in the Indian Ocean."
HOW DID IRAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM DEVELOP?
Stating that Iran could not modernize its air force to the desired level due to US sanctions after the 1979 Revolution, Keleş stated that the Tehran administration turned to the missile program to meet its defense needs and said:
"After the 1979 revolution, Iran especially wanted to protect its own airspace and strengthen its air force. However, it could not achieve the result it wanted due to the sanctions imposed by America. Unable to meet its defense needs and the modernization of its air force, Iran turned to another alternative this time. We came across missile systems that Iran has been trying to develop for years. Especially thanks to its close cooperation with North Korea, missile development efforts have accelerated. Now, at this point, Iran has missiles in various versions with a range starting from 200 kilometers to 2 thousand kilometers and above. happened."
Stating that the first missiles developed by Iran were liquid-fuelled and conventional-speed, Keleş said that technology changed in the following period:
"At first, the missiles developed by Iran were liquid-fueled and conventional-speed missiles. Later, it took the opportunity to develop supersonic missiles and then hypersonic missiles."
Keleş stated that Iran's use of solid fuel technology is an important stage in its missile program.
