Mohsen Zanganeh, a member of Iran's parliament, told state television Saturday that "two nights ago we tested one of the country's most advanced missiles, which had not been tested until now, and the test was successful."
Despite the current circumstances, he said, "we are conducting a security test of an intercontinental missile." Zanganeh added that "until now our diplomatic team opposed this. We must not turn our strengths into weaknesses."
The test comes as Iran continues to expand its ballistic capabilities, under a civilian guise. According to the Iranian Space Agency, the Islamic Republic plans to launch four more satellites by March 2026, some of them named "Soleimani" after Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by the US in 2020.
Photo: AP AP
A 2019 Pentagon intelligence report warned that Iran's satellite launches could assist in developing an intercontinental ballistic missile. In January 2024, European powers cautioned that the launch of a satellite using the "Qaem 100" rocket was a cover for testing technology critical to long-range ballistic missile development.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared Saturday that Iran would overcome any reinstatement of sanctions through the "snapback" mechanism, after the UN Security Council voted against permanently lifting sanctions on Tehran.
"Through 'snapback' they block the way, but it is thought and ideas that open or build the way," Pezeshkian said in remarks broadcast on state television. "They cannot stop us. They can attack Natanz or Fordo, but they don't realize that it was people who built Natanz and will build it again."
On Friday, a UN Security Council resolution that would have prevented the reimposition of sanctions on Iran failed, winning the support of only four countries - China, Russia, Pakistan and Algeria - while nine members, including the US, France and the UK, opposed it.
The failed vote paved the way for the snapback mechanism to be triggered, which could reimpose all international sanctions that were in place on Iran between 2006 and 2015. These include an arms embargo, restrictions on ballistic missiles, asset freezes and travel bans.
