Iran boasts of new 'Paveh' cruise missile with a range of 1,650 km that can reach Israel

On Friday, a senior Iranian general, Amirali Hajizeh, revealed a new cruise missile with a range of 1,650 km (1,025 miles) that has been ded to Iran's missile arsenal. missile, named Paveh, could potentially reach Israel, as per a report from Times of Israel. During an interview with state television, Hajizeh also reiterated Iran's desire to kill former US President Donald Trump. “God willing, we are looking to kill Trump. Pompeo … and military commanders who issued order (to kill Soleimani) should be killed,” Hajizeh said in interview.

television brocasted first footage of missile, showing it launch, fly low over terrain, and hit a target. Hajizeh did not provide any ditional details about missile or than its range. Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps aerospace force has previously claimed to have cruise missiles with ranges of up to 1,000 km (620 miles) and missiles that can reach up to 2,000 km (1,250 miles), which could target Israel and US military bases in region.

What are cruise missiles?

Cruise missiles are highly accurate, self-propelled weapons that are designed to fly at low altitudes and follow a predetermined flight path to ir target. y are used primarily for striking ground targets, such as enemy installations, military units, or infrastructure. Unlike ballistic missiles, which are powered by rockets and follow an arching trajectory into space before coming down on ir target, cruise missiles fly at a relatively low altitude and are propelled by jet engines or turbofans.

Cruise missiles can be launched from a variety of platforms, including ground-based launchers, ships, submarines, or aircraft. y are typically guided by onboard computers and sensors, such as GPS, inertial navigation systems, and terrain-following rar, which allow m to navigate ir way to target with great precision. Some cruise missiles are also capable of justing ir flight path mid-flight to avoid obstacles or eve detection by enemy defenses.

Cruise missiles can carry a variety of paylos, including conventional high-explosive warhes, fragmentation warhes, incendiary devices, or chemical or biological agents. y can also be used to deliver nuclear warhes, although this is highly controversial and subject to strict international treaties and agreements.

Iran's weapons development programme is raising concerns

Iran has developed various s of weaponry such as drones, naval vessels, aircraft, and electronic systems. re is growing concern around world that Iran has supplied suicide drones to Russia for use in Ukraine and could potentially provide or weapons systems to Moscow. Israel has cautioned against Iran's missile program, arguing that it not only poses a threat to Israel, but also to region and Europe, as se missiles could potentially launch nuclear weapons if Iran acquires m.

In 2018, US pulled out of Iran nuclear deal, with n-President Donald Trump citing its weakness in dressing Iran's missile development. Sanctions were re-imposed on Iran, leing Tehran to begin enriching uranium up to 60% purity, which is a short technical step away from 90% purity required to make an atomic bomb. report on new cruise missiles came hours after Iran announced its decision to air defence systems to Syria, to guard against Israeli airstrikes. 

Context: A quick look at Iran-Israel rivalry

two countries have been at odds since Islamic Revolution of 1979, which saw overthrow of Iran's pro-Western monarchy and establishment of an Islamic Republic under leership of Ayatollah Khomeini. Islamic Republic's anti-Western stance and its support for Islamic movements around world, particularly in Middle East, has put it at odds with Israel, a staunch US ally and only Jewish state in world. Iran's support for groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, both of which are sworn enemies of Israel, has furr exacerbated conflict.

In dition to ideological differences, Iran and Israel have clashed over a number of geopolitical issues, including Iran's nuclear program, which Israel views as an existential threat. Israel has accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, while Iran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. Israel has also expressed concern over Iran's expanding influence in Syria, where Iran has been providing military support to Ass regime.

conflict between Iran and Israel has also taken on a religious dimension, as both countries claim to be true custodians of Holy Land. Iran's ruling regime, which is predominantly Shia, has called for destruction of Israel, while Israel sees itself as guardian of Jewish people and land promised to m by God.