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Iran sabre rattling with launch of hypersonic missile in threat to West and Israel
Story by Robert Fisk • Yesterday 18:47
Daily Express
Iran Unveils Highly Advanced Hypersonic Missiles
Iran has unveiled a hypersonic missile in a move which will cause alarm amongst Israel and Western leaders as it says it can bypass and destroy all air defence systems. Tehran claims the missile is impossible to shoot down and can travel at 15 times the speed of sound.
The weapon, which has been dubbed the "Fattah", was revealed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps at a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Raisi and the regime's top military chiefs.
Iran's president said: "Today we feel that the deterrent power has been formed ... this power is an anchor of lasting security and peace for the regional countries."
And General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's aerospace programme, declared: "There exists no system that can rival or counter this missile".
Iran's assertion about the capabilities of the missile will cause deep concern for Israel, Iran's archenemy in the region, and also in the West.
The Fattah missile with an Iran flag behind© Fars News Agency
Women looking at the Fattah missile© REX/ Shutterstock
Western leaders were already very anxious about the increasing military might of Iran, especially its new security pact with Russia which is helping Moscow with the invasion of Ukraine.
News of the ceremony was broadcast on Iranian state television, with viewers told the missile can destroy "the enemy's advanced anti-missile systems and is a big generational leap in the field of missiles".
The report added: "It can bypass the most advanced anti-ballistic missile systems of the United States and the Zionist regime, including Israel's Iron Dome."
Daily Telegraph reports that the Fattah system has a range of 1,400km, can move in and out of space and, according to one Iranian general, can hit targets in Israel in as little as 400 seconds.
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The missile on stage in Iran© REX/ Shutterstock
A picture of the Fattah missile in two sections© Fars News Agency
Tensions are running high in the region with Israel and Iran locked in a shadow war where they have attacked each other's infrastructure and ships.
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Israel thinks that Tehran's nuclear programme is an existential threat and is suspected of launching covert attacks on its nuclear facilities.
And experts have warned that
Israel could be at war with Iran by the summer if Tehran does not abandon its race for nuclear weapons.
Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that he may take decisive military action against the nuclear programme in the near future.
If this happens it could lead to open warfare in the region.
It has been suggested by some Israeli media outlets that the hypersonic missile may have been built with technological support from Russia.
Iran has been helping Vladimir Putin in his invasion of Ukraine by providing his forces with drones and missiles.
To reciprocate,
Moscow is sending fighter jets to Iran, and it is thought it could be assisting the regime in building up its military strength in other areas too.
The Fattah missile is black with white writing on© Fars News Agency