Iran navy receives a new cruise missile, in the middle of a international crisis

Iran’s navy has received cruise missiles with a range of 1,000 km (621 miles) and reconnaissance helicopters, state media reported Sunday, as the United States accused Iran of drone attacks on a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean.

“The Talaeiyeh cruise missile has a range of more than 1,000 km and is a smart missile that can change targets mid-mission,” Iranian navy chief Shahram Irani told state media.

Reconnaissance helicopters, drones, and sea-based cruise missiles are among the new weapons added to the navy’s arsenal, Irani said, adding that “all this equipment was designed and produced by Iran’s military industry.”

Although Western military analysts argue that Iran sometimes exaggerates its capabilities, Iranian-made missiles and drones are a key element of Tehran’s military hardware. But Iiranian weapons are simple, affordable, and effective, and intercepting needs much more expensive countermeasure

It appears that cruise missiles of this type have also been sent to the Houthis and are available to them for attacks as part of their anti-Israeli program.

The U.S. Defense Department said Saturday that an Iranian-sent drone struck a Liberian-flagged chemical tanker ship in the Indian Ocean, an incident that highlights rising regional tensions and a new risk to shipping lanes in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent action in Gaza.

Iran on Saturday denied U.S. accusations that it was involved in planning attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement, aligned with Tehran, against commercial ships in the Red Sea.