Iran unveils ‘Etemad’ ballistic missile with range of 1,700 kilometers

Iran revealed a new ballistic missile on Sunday, showcasing what it described as the latest addition to its military arsenal in a ceremony attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian. The missile, named Etemad—meaning “trust” in Persian—was presented as the most recent advancement in Iran’s defense capabilities.

State television broadcast images of the missile, stating it has a maximum range of 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles), a distance that puts Israel well within reach. The announcement comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with Iran having previously launched strikes at Israel last year as the conflict in Gaza escalated.

“The development of defense capabilities and space technologies… aims to ensure that no country dares to attack Iranian territory,” Pezeshkian said in a televised address.

The unveiling coincided with Iran’s National Aerospace Day and precedes the 46th anniversary of the Islamic Republic’s establishment on Feb.10, 1979.

Western governments have repeatedly voiced concerns over Iran’s expanding ballistic missile program, viewing it as a destabilizing factor in the Middle East.

Since the return of U.S. President Donald Trump—who in his first term pursued a “maximum pressure” strategy against Tehran—Iran has displayed its military strength through large-scale exercises and the revelation of underground military installations.

Yet, alongside its military developments, Tehran has also indicated a willingness to restart negotiations over its nuclear program, a longstanding source of friction with Western nations.

Iran’s domestic arms industry has grown substantially since the 1979 revolution when U.S. sanctions cut off access to its primary weapons supplier.

The country, which was under an arms embargo during its war with Iraq in the 1980s, now produces a range of military equipment, including drones, air defense systems, and ballistic missiles.