Iran has built a new longer-range ballistic missile named "Ashura" with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles), the defense minister said Tuesday.
The weapon's range is sufficient to put U.S. bases in the Middle East and Iran's arch enemy Israel within reacha and is named after the holy Ashura mourning ceremony that marks the death of Shiite imam Hussein.
However there has been considerable confusion in recent months about the capacities of Iran's longer-range missiles, seen by experts as one of its chief military assets.
Iran in September at its main military parade unveiled a missile labeled Ghadr-1 (Power), which was said to have a range of 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles).
Iran's best-known longer-range missile, the Shahab-3, has been said by officials in the past to have a range of 2,000 kilometers. Yet at the military parade it was said to have only a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) range.
Some Western military experts claimed that the Ghadr-1 was no more than a Shahab-3 under a different name and has the "baby bottle" style nose for extra aerodynamic efficiency seen on versions of the Shahab-3.
The Fars news agency, which is known for its coverage of military affairs, did not publish any new pictures of the missile.
Iran has regularly touted the abilities of its missile arsenal at a time of mounting tension with the West over its nuclear program.
The United States has never ruled out a military attack against Iran to punish its years of defiance in the nuclear crisis.
The Islamic republic has said it will never initiate any attack but has also warned it will strike back with crushing force if the United States launches an attack against it.
Iranian military officials have publicly threatened to hit U.S. bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and on the Arabian Peninsula with its missiles if Washington attacks.
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