Iran touts new ballistic missile as Hormuz tensions rise

Iranian state media said Monday that the solid-fueled Qassem Basir has improved range and accuracy and carries a warhead weighing about 500 kilograms. The missile was first unveiled last year with a stated range of at least 1,200 kilometers (745 miles), but Iranian officials now describe its capabilities as part of a broader shift toward taking action against perceived threats before they materialize. Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, claimed the missile had been tested against a U.S. warship, although it was not independently established whether the reported test involved the Qassem Basir.

The claims came after the United States said Iran had launched ballistic missiles toward U.S. warships on Saturday and that American forces responded by striking three Iranian oil tankers. U.S. officials said the warships avoided the attacks. The confrontation has added to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a major international shipping route for oil, natural gas and other commodities. The U.S. says it controls the waterway and has cleared it of mines, while Iran has threatened to establish an exclusion zone and require vessels to follow routes designated by Tehran. The U.S. military said Monday that 94 commercial vessels had been redirected and three disabled amid the continuing maritime confrontation.