NICOSIA — Iran claims to have reached the capability to destroy Israeli cities.
Officials said the Iranian military has enhanced its ballistic missile arsenal that could target major Israeli cities. They said Teheran has tested indigenous missiles and rockets with enhanced guidance systems.
“We enjoy the needed level of preparedness to put this statement into action in the shortest time possible if the enemy makes a foolish move,” Iranian Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Mohammed Hejazi said in a briefing on April 15, Hejazi, in charge of defense research, said Iran could fire missiles that could destroy Haifa and Tel Aviv. He said
Iran’s military has deterred Israel and the West from attacking Teheran’s nuclear facilities.
Hejazi was speaking as Iran tested several indigenous missiles and rockets, including an enhanced variant of the Fajr-5. Fajr-5, with a range of nearly 80 kilometers, was fired by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in attacks on Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in November 2012.
“Israel’s leaders sometimes threaten Iran, but they know that if they do a damn thing, the Islamic republic will raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground,” Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei said.