Iran Unveils Improved Ballistic Missile Amid Tensions Over Strait of Hormuz
Iranian state media reported that Tehran's new ballistic missile, the solid-fueled Qassem Basir, has improved capabilities and demonstrates a new doctrine. The report cited comments by Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who boasted about the new missile capability and claimed it had been tested against a U.S. warship.
The exact nature of what was tested is unclear, but the Qassem Basir has a range of at least 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) and can carry a half-ton warhead. This development comes as Iran's messaging in recent days has become more assertive.
The U.S. responded to plans announced by Rezaei to create an 'exclusion zone' near the Strait of Hormuz, saying the waterway is open and controlled by the U.S. The U.S. Navy also cleared the strait of mines, but a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports continues in an effort to increase Tehran's economic pain.
The situation remains tense as both countries assert claims about the strait and the flow of shipping. Transits through the waterway dropped sharply last week, and global commerce information firm Kpler noted this on X. Regional countries are expressing frustration over the uncertainty around the waterway, which is crucial for shipping global supplies of oil, natural gas, and related products.