On Sunday, February 2, Iran surprised the international community by unveiling for the first time its new ballistic missile, Etemad (Confidence). The unveiling ceremony took place during an aerospace defense exhibition at the Iranian Ministry of Defense in Tehran. The country's new weapon was revealed in the presence of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Etemad: A promising missile
The Etemad is a massive missile, 16 meters long with a diameter of 1.25 meters. It is equipped with a precision-guided warhead and, according to Iranian media, can strike targets at a maximum range of 1,700 kilometers.
Iranian President Pezeshkian made a bold statement, stating that the Etemad missile, like all other domestic weapon systems of the country, aims to safeguard Iran's national security and deter hostile aggression.
“These achievements are intended to ensure that no foreign country will dare to attack Iran or even consider it,” emphasized the Iranian leader.
The unveiling of the promising Etemad ballistic missile took place just days before the 46th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The celebration ceremony will be held on February 10th this year.
In recent days, Tehran has showcased several new weapons at its defense exhibition for its aerospace industry. On the first of the month, a new cruise missile called Ghadr-380 with a range of 1,000 kilometers was presented. According to the manufacturer, the weapon demonstrates resilience against enemy electronic jamming efforts, and it can be launched by an operator in less than five minutes.
It is worth reminding that a few days ago, the world’s headlines were dominated by the revelation of a large underground naval base in Iran, used for the storage of missiles and drones.
Finally, Tehran’s armed forces have been conducting massive drills from January 2025 until now, mainly out of fear of a potential U.S.-Israeli attack against the Iranian state.
Western military analysts have expressed concerns over Tehran's military programs.
"The development and testing of ballistic missiles by Iran could destabilize the Middle East," reported the Western press.
Nevertheless, the Iranians continue unabated, expanding their arsenal with both domestically produced and foreign systems.
