Middle East Conflict: According to state media, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards said on Friday that their fleet now possesses new cruise missiles with highly destructive, undetectable warheads.
The decision by the nation’s most potent security agency comes amid worries of a full-scale Middle East conflict following Iran’s promise to exact revenge for the July 31 death of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas, in Tehran.
Iran has accused Israel, although Israel has not acknowledged or denied any role.
“In today’s world you either have to be powerful to survive, or surrender. There’s no middle ground,” said the Guards’ top commander, Major-General Hossein Salami.
“A large number of cruise missiles have been added to the Guards’ navy fleet. These new missiles have capabilities of highly explosive warheads that are undetectable and can cause extensive damage and sink their targets,” a Guards statement said.
The Navy of the Guards also announced in a statement that it has expanded its fleet to include a variety of long- and medium-range missile weapons, naval radars, and reconnaissance drones.
“These systems are among the most up-to-date anti-surface and sub-surface weapons in the Guards’ navy,” it said.
(With agency input)