WASHINGTON, Sept 7 – Iran said Monday that an upgraded ballistic missile demonstrates a shift in its military approach, with Tehran now asserting that it is prepared to act against perceived threats before they are carried out.
Iranian state media described the solid-fueled Qassem Basir missile as a major advance in the country’s defense capabilities, saying the weapon reflects what officials called a new strategic doctrine. The message comes as tensions remain high between Iran and the United States following months of conflict that has increasingly disrupted shipping and security across the Gulf.
The report repeatedly referred to remarks made a day earlier by Mohsen Rezaei, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, during an appearance on state television. Rezaei praised what he described as improved Iranian missile capabilities and claimed that a new capability had been tested against a U.S. warship.
It remained unclear, however, whether the weapon allegedly used in that test was the Qassem Basir missile described in Monday’s report.
The United States said Saturday that Iranian ballistic missiles had been launched toward American warships. U.S. officials said the vessels avoided the attacks, while Washington later announced strikes against three Iranian oil tankers.
Military analysts described the reported missile launches toward U.S. naval vessels as a dangerous escalation. Until that point in the conflict, attacks attributed to Iran in regional waters had primarily focused on commercial shipping.
Iran’s increasingly assertive statements in recent days have raised fresh concerns over the direction of the conflict. State media said the Qassem Basir represented a “turning point” in the country’s defense strategy, highlighting its reported improvements in range, accuracy and destructive capability.
Iran unveiled the missile last year and said at the time that it had a range of at least 1,200 kilometers, or about 745 miles. Monday’s report said the missile carries a warhead weighing approximately half a ton.
Iran’s ballistic missile program was among the major concerns cited by the United States and Israel when they launched attacks on Iranian territory earlier this year, setting off the conflict that has since drawn in countries across the wider Middle East.
US rejects Iran’s proposed restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s latest missile announcement came as Washington and Tehran continued to trade competing claims over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
The White House rejected Iranian plans for an “exclusion zone” near the strait, an idea previously announced by Rezaei. Iranian officials want vessels moving through the area to follow a route approved by Tehran, increasing uncertainty for international shipping companies already dealing with attacks and disruptions.
Washington responded by insisting that the waterway remains open and under U.S. military protection. The White House also said the U.S. Navy had cleared mines from the strait and expected tanker movements toward non-Iranian ports to increase.
A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports remains in effect as Washington seeks to increase economic pressure on Tehran by restricting its ability to export oil. The U.S. military said Monday that 94 commercial vessels had been redirected during the conflict and three others had been disabled.
The competing positions underscore the increasingly complicated situation in the strait, where Iran and the United States are attempting to influence the movement of commercial vessels through a narrow waterway vital to global energy markets.
Rezaei acknowledged that the United States has been assisting a limited number of ships using a route near Oman’s coast. He said Iran had not attacked those vessels because of the oil they were carrying and concerns about the environmental consequences of a major spill.
Before the conflict began, the Strait of Hormuz was widely treated as an international waterway used by commercial vessels from countries around the world. The war has transformed the passage into a major flashpoint, with shipping companies facing growing risks and uncertainty over which routes remain safe.
Global commerce information firm Kpler said that vessel movements through the waterway fell sharply last week, reflecting the growing security concerns among shipping operators.
The danger was highlighted by an attack on a Saudi-owned tanker a week ago that killed two crew members and left seven others unaccounted for. If all seven missing sailors are confirmed dead, the incident would become the deadliest attack on a commercial vessel since the conflict began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes.
The disruption to shipping has also created wider concerns for oil markets and global trade. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial route for supplies of crude oil, liquefied natural gas and petroleum-based products, while other commodities, including fertilizer-related shipments, also depend on secure access to the region.
Gulf countries warn against control of crucial waterway
Regional frustration over the continued instability was on display Monday as Gulf officials warned that international commerce could not be allowed to depend on the decisions of a single country.
Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said during a forum of world leaders in Abu Dhabi that no individual state should control the Strait of Hormuz.
“Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity,” Gargash said, stressing the broader economic importance of the waterway.
The United Arab Emirates has been among the countries most directly affected by the conflict. The close U.S. ally has repeatedly faced Iranian missile and drone attacks since the fighting began.
Last month, the UAE suspended all trade with Iran after authorities said the country had come under renewed attacks. The decision marked a significant deterioration in economic relations between Tehran and one of the Gulf’s major commercial centers.
Gargash warned that repairing relations between Iran and neighboring Gulf states could take decades, highlighting the deep political and security divisions created by the prolonged conflict.
Similar concerns were expressed in Cairo, where Nabil Fahmy, secretary-general of the Arab League, addressed a ministerial-level meeting and condemned attacks on Gulf countries.
“We will not accept our maritime corridors to become a bargaining chip in the calculations of others,” Fahmy said.
The statements from the UAE and the Arab League reflect growing regional pressure for a restoration of secure maritime routes as governments attempt to limit the wider economic and security consequences of the war.
For now, however, Iran’s declaration that it is prepared to confront threats before they materialize, combined with its claims of improved ballistic missile capabilities, signals that Tehran is adopting an increasingly forceful posture.
With U.S. warships remaining active in regional waters, commercial shipping continuing to face disruption and Gulf nations demanding protection for their trade routes, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most volatile aspects of the conflict. The coming days could determine whether the competing military and political strategies lead to further escalation or create pressure for a new diplomatic effort to secure one of the world’s most important maritime corridors.