Iran displays domestically built mobile missile defense system
Iran displayed what it described as a domestically
built long-range, mobile surface-to-air missile system on Thursday, Iranian
state media reported.
The announcement comes at a time of rising tension
between Iran and United States.
Iran shot down a US military surveillance drone in
the Gulf with a surface-to-air missile in June.
It says the drone was over its territory, but the
United States says it was in international airspace.
State television showed President Hassan Rouhani
attending an unveiling ceremony for the Bavar-373 system (believe in Farsi),
which Iranian media have described as a competitor to the Russian S-300 missile
system.
The system’s unveiling came on Iran’s National
Defense Industry Day.
Iran has developed a large domestic arms industry in
the face of international sanctions and embargoes that have barred it from
importing many weapons.
Western military analysts say Iran often exaggerates
its weapons capabilities, though concerns about its long-range ballistic
missile program contributed to Washington last year leaving the pact that Iran
sealed with world powers in 2015 to rein in its nuclear ambitions in exchange
for an easing of economic sanctions