All nice brand new. The Iranian authorities are proud to present their first locally designed hypersonic ballistic missile to the world. Made by the Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force, the Islamic Republic's ideological army, it was named Fattah, "victorious," in Arabic. He was presented on a stage during a ceremony attended by President Ebrahim Raisi and military officials, including the head of the Guards, General Hossein Salami, according to state television and the IRNA news agency.

"We should thank God for this great achievement," because "it will make the country stronger," Raisi said in his speech. The missile will strengthen Iran's "deterrent power," which "brings security and stable peace to countries in the region," he added.

Speed, range and maneuverability

According to IRNA, the Fattah missile's range is 1,400 km and its speed before reaching the target is between 13 and 15 times the speed of sound. Hypersonic missiles fly at low altitudes in the atmosphere and are maneuverable, making their trajectory difficult to predict and intercepting difficult. Tehran claims that this device can pass through the air defense systems of any country in the region.

It is "a unique missile in the world," General Hadjizadeh, commander of the Aerospace Force of the Revolutionary Guards army, was quoted as saying by IRNA. "There is no anti-missile weapon against Fattah because of its technology. The Fattah missile cannot be destroyed by any missile due to its maneuvering in different directions and altitudes," he added.

The development of the Fattah missile will strengthen Iran's military arsenal and, consequently, the concerns of many countries, first and foremost the United States and Israel, the latter fearing that its territory could be reached by Iranian weapons.

A special context for Iran

Iran announced in November the manufacture of this missile, raising concerns of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about Iran's nuclear program. However, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the announcement "should have no influence" on negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. These discussions have been at a standstill since the summer of 2022.

The unveiling of the new missile comes as Iran seeks to normalize relations with Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, where it is due to reopen its embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday after seven years of discord between the two countries.

There are also reports of indirect contacts between Iran and the United States to revive the agreement known by the acronym JCPOA, limiting Iran's atomic activities in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Monday that the Biden administration views Iran as the main threat to Israel and will never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

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