Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Iran has reported a new anti-ship ballistic missile.

The Iranian Defense Ministry said it oversaw the firing of a coastal
missile designed to destroy Western warships.

The ministry said the missile could be fired from coastal launchers toward a range of Western naval vessels in the Gulf.

“The Defense Ministry has been able to test a new missile in the Persian
Gulf which has a high ability to hit targets,” Iran Deputy Defense
Minister Majid Bokaei said.

“When this missile was tested, all the enemy
destroyers and ships retreated from near our borders.”

In a statement on April 16, Bokaei did not say when the test took place.
The deputy minister said the unnamed indigenous missile was equipped with advanced guidance systems.

“This new missile, which has been equipped with a surface-to-surface
missile system, exits the atmosphere after being launched, re-enters it at
high speed, and completely destroys the target vessel or warship,” Bokaei
said.

This marked the second Iranian announcement of a coast-to-sea missile in
less than a year. In August 2012, Iran reported an anti-ship missile with a
range of 300 kilometers.

  advanced guidance systems, Iran claims ‘enemy destroyers’ retreated when it tested anti-ship missile, Majid Bokaei, Persian Gulf