By News Agencies
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Wednesday that Iran has successfully test-fired a new advanced missile with a range of about 1,200 miles, far enough to strike Israel and southeastern Europe as well as U.S. bases in the Gulf.
U.S. sources later confirmed the test, adding that the administration was looking into its range as well as other data.
The solid-fuel Sajil-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.
"The Sajil 2 missile, which has an advanced technology, was launched today ... and it landed exactly on the target," Ahmadinejad said during a visit to the northern Semnan province, where Iran's official news agency IRNA said the launch took place.
The announcement comes just two days after U.S. President Barack Obama declared a readiness to seek deeper international sanctions against Iran if it shunned U.S. attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear program. He said he expected a positive response to his diplomatic outreach by the end of the year.
Iran's announcement is likely to arouse further concern in the West about Iran's military ambitions. The U.S. and its allies suspect the Islamic Republic is seeking to build nuclear bombs. Tehran denies the charge.
Iran said in November it test fired a Sajil missile, describing it as a new generation of surface-to-surface missile. Tehran said it was ready to defend itself against any attacker.
Washington said at the time that the test highlighted the need for a missile defense system it plans to base in Poland and the Czech Republic to counter threats from what it calls "rogue states".
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