Iran Successfully Tests Two Missiles

Iran is reported to have successfully tested two ballistic missiles yesterday, which has long been a source of concern for Western nations, according to IRNA news agency.

"The new generation of ballistic missile with a fragmentation warhead, and a Bina laser-guided surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missile, have been successfully tested," Defence Minister Hossein Dehgan said.

He said the new ballistic missile could "evade anti-missile systems" and was capable of "great destruction", adding that the other missile can be fired from a plane or a boat to strike military targets with "great precision".

The UN Security Council, the United States and the European Union have long imposed sanctions on Iran's ballistic missile programme.

Iranian officials have said they will not discuss the missile programme at talks with world powers later this month on Tehran's controversial nuclear activities.

Western nations and Israel suspect Iran is covertly pursuing nuclear weapons alongside its civilian programme, allegations denied by Tehran.