Despite decades of sanctions, Iran has succeeded in developing its missile arsenal, which is larger than that of any other Middle Eastern country including Israel, a Pentagon study said Tuesday.

"Iran has an extensive missile development program, and the size and sophistication of its missile force continues to grow despite decades of counterproliferation efforts aimed at curbing its advancement," the Defense Intelligence Agency said.

The study said Iran considered missiles to be a strategic necessity due to the limitations of its air force, which still has some US planes ordered by the pro-Western shah, who was toppled in 1979.

"Lacking a modern air force, Iran has embraced ballistic missiles as a long-range strike capability to dissuade its adversaries in the region -- particularly the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia -- from attacking Iran," the report said.

Iran has "the largest missile force in the Middle East," the report said. A US intelligence official said on condition of anonymity that the assessment included Israel.

The report said that Iran had developed a series of missiles that could strike at a distance of 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) -- capable of reaching Israel or Saudi Arabia.

Iran in 2017 showcased the 1,250-mile-range Khoramshahr missile, which can carry multiple warheads. The Pentagon study, in line with a tweet at the time by President Donald Trump, said the missile appeared to use technology from North Korea.

But the Pentagon study said that Iran was spending slightly less on its military, with $20.7 billion budgeted in 2017.

Iran's economy has come under growing pressure since Trump last year withdrew from a denuclearization accord and reimposed sweeping sanctions.

Christian Saunders, an expert on Iran at the Defense Intelligence Agency, warned of the impact if an arms embargo is lifted on Iran next year.

"These restrictions are set to expire in October 2020, providing Tehran an opportunity to acquire some advanced capabilities that have been beyond its reach for decades," Saunders told reporters.

The Islamic republic has faced UN-mandated sanctions on importing most weapons since 2006, but the embargo is set to expire five years after implementation of the nuclear deal.

The accord, which Iran reached in 2015 with former president Barack Obama's administration as well as Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia, is on life support after Trump left it and as Tehran takes steps to end compliance as a protest over continued sanctions.

A US intelligence official expected Iran to concentrate on procuring fighter jets and battle tanks, with Russia and China the most likely suppliers.

Iran argues that it must keep up its defenses, pointing to Western support for Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war and Israel's undeclared nuclear program.

Source:https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-says-irans-missiles-unrivaled-middle-east-211808212.html

Don't mess with the persians.

Fake news

HOW IS IT COMPARED TO THAT OF RUSSIA?

orisa37:
HOW IS IT COMPARED TO THAT OF RUSSIA?

Russia is not a middle eastern country.

dermmy:


Russia is not a middle eastern country.

I know but I want Pentagon to answer the question.

orisa37:





I know but I want Pentagon to answer the question.

Lol

The sole purpose of this news is to gather support to extend the UN embargo on Iran that is due to end in October. US withdrew from the agreement due to Israeli lobby pressure and lack of foresight, now that they've realized their mistake, the same Israeli lobby in Washington is pushing US to do something about it so Trump wants to rejoin the deal he proudly walked away from just because he wants to extend the embargo and restricts the weapons That Iran can purchase. He will succeed in using his European proxies in sabotaging the deal but Russia and China will support Iran.
They didn't just discover that Iran's missile capability is far beyond any other country in the region, they are only telling it to the public now because they want people to "see how much of a threat Iran is to Israel and US interest in the middle east". This public opinion control is exactly like what happened prior to the invasion of Iraq.

Whyem15:
The sole purpose of this news is to gather support to extend the UN embargo on Iran that is due to end in October. US withdrew from the agreement due to Israeli lobby pressure and lack of foresight, now that they've realized their mistake, the same Israeli lobby in Washington is pushing US to do something about it so Trump wants to rejoin the deal he proudly walked away from just because he wants to extend the embargo and restricts the weapons That Iran can purchase. He will succeed in using his European proxies in sabotaging the deal but Russia and China will support Iran.
They didn't just discover that Iran's missile capability is far beyond any other country in the region, they are only telling it to the public now because they want people to "see how much of a threat Iran is to Israel and US interest in the middle east". This public opinion control is exactly like what happened prior to the invasion of Iraq.

Russia and China is likely to veto any attempt to extend the arms embargo both countries have said they can't wait for the arms embargo to be lifted so that they can resume arms sale to Iran. The only thing America can do is threaten Russia and Chinese defence industries linked to any arms deal with Iran with sanctions. America is really scared of an Iran with S-400, SU-35, SU-57.

dermmy:


Lol

Speculation.

Whyem15:
The sole purpose of this news is to gather support to extend the UN embargo on Iran that is due to end in October. US withdrew from the agreement due to Israeli lobby pressure and lack of foresight, now that they've realized their mistake, the same Israeli lobby in Washington is pushing US to do something about it so Trump wants to rejoin the deal he proudly walked away from just because he wants to extend the embargo and restricts the weapons That Iran can purchase. He will succeed in using his European proxies in sabotaging the deal but Russia and China will support Iran.
They didn't just discover that Iran's missile capability is far beyond any other country in the region, they are only telling it to the public now because they want people to "see how much of a threat Iran is to Israel and US interest in the middle east". This public opinion control is exactly like what happened prior to the invasion of Iraq.

You're a master! How I wish many nairalanders will understand foreign politics the way you're able to comprehend it.

dermmy:


Russia and China is likely to veto any attempt to extend the arms embargo both countries have said they can't wait for the arms embargo to be lifted so that they can resume arms sale to Iran. The only thing America can do is threaten Russia and Chinese defence industries linked to any arms deal with Iran with sanctions. America is really scared of an Iran with S-400, SU-35, SU-57.

Cos the Iranians are f00lish those guys can mistakenly bomb their country, they are not so good at handling things.

Whyem15:
The sole purpose of this news is to gather support to extend the UN embargo on Iran that is due to end in October. [s]US withdrew from the agreement due to Israeli lobby pressure and lack of foresight, now that they've realized their mistake[/s], the same Israeli lobby in Washington is pushing US to do something about it so Trump wants to rejoin the deal he proudly walked away from just because he wants to extend the embargo and restricts the weapons That Iran can purchase. He will succeed in using his European proxies in sabotaging the deal but Russia and China will support Iran.
They didn't just discover that Iran's missile capability is far beyond any other country in the region, they are only telling it to the public now because they want people to "see how much of a threat Iran is to Israel and US interest in the middle east". This public opinion control is exactly like what happened prior to the invasion of Iraq.

americans regret nothing on that decision by cancelled the evil deal Obama made with iran, infact most Americans never support d deal. the only people lamenting is the iran and their fans like u

dermmy:


Russia and China is likely to veto any attempt to extend the arms embargo both countries have said they can't wait for the arms embargo to be lifted so that they can resume arms sale to Iran. The only thing America can do is threaten Russia and Chinese defence industries linked to any arms deal with Iran with sanctions. [s]America is really scared of an Iran with S-400, SU-35, SU-57[/s].

and what stop dem from veto the embargo when it was intially placed on iran?, since russia and china has always be the allies of iran . .seems people like u are even more active that both Russia and China