Iran claims success in testing missile capable of hitting Israel and Europe

Iran claimed to have fired a new advanced missile today with a range of about 1,200 miles, enough to strike Israel and Europe.

The announcement came just two days after President Barack Obama declared a readiness to seek deeper international sanctions against Iran if it shunned US attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear programme.

“Defence Minister (Mostafa Mohammad Najjar) has informed me that the Sajjil-2 missile, which has very advanced technology, was launched from Semnan and it landed precisely on the target,” President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.

Ahmadinejad is running for re-election next month and has been criticised by his opponents and others for antagonising the US and mismanaging the country’s faltering economy.

Most Western analysts believe Iran does not yet have the technology to produce nuclear weapons, including warheads for long-range missiles. However, many believe it is seeking such capabilities and could achieve that within five to 10 years.

Iran says its missile programme is merely for defence and its space programme is for scientific and surveillance purposes. It also maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian energy uses only.

The solid-fuel Sajjil-2 surface-to-surface missile is a new version of the Sajjil missile, which Iran said it had successfully tested late last year with a similar range.