The Soufan Centre published its paper called ‘The Growing Threat of Iranian Missiles’, which highlights the “multi-tiered threat to US interests and allies” from the Islamic Republic’s “increasingly sophisticated medium-range ballistic programme”.
According to the Think Tank, the “Khorramshahr missile, places a growing proportion of Europe squarely within the Islamic Republic’s crosshairs.”
“Iran’s supply of short-range ballistic missiles to Tehran’s regional allies and proxies enables the mullahs to project power throughout the region,” the report adds.
“The net effect of Iran’s missile strategy is significant in that Iran is increasingly able to retaliate against, and thus deter, US partners in Europe that might consider joining any major US-led military action against Iran.”
Bases used by US forces in Europe are also within range, but the accuracy of Iran’s missiles is debatable, it is claimed.
Iran is also supplying missiles to terrorist groups in neighbouring countries, such as Hezbollah, which has made US allies such as Israel and Saudi Arabia “much less secure”, the report adds.
But the report adds that this could potentially lead to Iran’s downfall, saying: “Israel has become so concerned about the ability of Iran and its allies to target its territory with missiles that Jerusalem has pursued a policy of frequent air strikes on Iran’s military and transhipment infrastructure in Syria, where Iran and its primary regional proxy, Hezbollah, have intervened to help Bashar Al Assad maintain power.
“Saudi Arabia enlisted US backing for its Arab coalition to combat the Houthis in Yemen, declaring the establishment of a ‘Hezbollah equivalent in Yemen’ unacceptable—a characterisation that evokes Iran’s supplying Hezbollah with missiles aimed at Israel.”
The think tank also warns that the only way to counteract the growing threat of Iran’s missile programme is “troops on the ground”.
It concluded: “Implicit within the concerns expressed by US and allied leaders is the realisation that there are no readily available solutions to the threat posed by Iran’s missiles.
“Neither US or international sanctions, nor any US or Israeli threats of military action, have forced Iran to accept significant limits to its missile development or supplies of missiles to its proxies.
“US and allied frustration over the challenge posed by Iran’s missiles increases the potential for ground action against Iran’s allies and proxies as the only effective means to defeat the missile threat.”
Donald Trump’s administration has called Iran’s missile programme the “largest in the Middle East” and is currently stoking up international support to counter Iran.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran’s ballistic missile activity is “out of control” during a UN Security Council meeting in December last year.
Iran’s missile programme was also the focus of Pompeo’s recent trip to Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq.
Source » dailystar