Iran’s military launches a missile. (Fars News)

In blatant disregard of the nuclear deal, Iran is progressing with the development of its ballistic missile capability, while constantly threatening Israel’s existence. 

A semi-official news agency reported that Iran’s military has test-fired two ballistic missiles at a target some 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) away, with the phrase “Israel must be wiped out” written on them.

The Fars news agency offered pictures Wednesday it said were of the Qadr H missiles being fired.

The announcement of the rocket fire comes as US Vice President Joe Biden visits Israel as part of a Mideast tour. It also comes after a US State Department spokesman on Tuesday criticized another missile launch, saying America planned to bring it before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

On Tuesday, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which fired the rockets, threatened Israel, saying it is within the range of most of the Islamic Republic’s missiles.

“Any one bearing greater enmity towards Islamic Iran will naturally be more fearful of such capabilities and preparednesses,” Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said on during the final stage of large-scale missile drills, code-named Eqtedar-e-Velayat. Iran’s PressTV reported.

The maneuvers are aimed at displaying Iran’s “deterrence power” and the country’s “full readiness to confront all kinds of threats against the [Islamic] Revolution, establishment and [Iran’s] territorial integrity,” the IRGC division said.

Shahab ballistic missiles and Qadr long-range precision-guided missiles were successfully test-fired in the maneuvers and hit pre-determined targets in a desert area west of Tehran.

General Jafari. (Fars News)

Iranian General Jafari (Fars News)

Jafari further said that defense power and national security are Iran’s red lines, which are by no means negotiable.

He added that the firing of ballistic missiles was “a crushing response” to the enemies of the Islamic Republic who have imposed sanctions on Iran’s missile program.

The commander added that sanctions have helped the country boost its missile power, achieve self-reliance and manufacture all its missiles.

He emphasized that sanctions and enemies’ security pressure have failed to impact Iran’s missile power, saying the Armed Forces and IRGC have grown into a unique power in the region.

Jafari said the missile drills were staged to convey a message of security to the Iranian nation and the neighboring countries. “Iran’s security is the security of regional countries and our efforts are in line with establishing security in the region,” he added.

Last October and in November Iran successfully test-fired its precision-guided long-range Emad missile.

In January, the US Department of the Treasury imposed new sanctions against Iranian citizens and companies over the country’s ballistic missile program.

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan has asserted that the Emad missile is a conventional weapon.

Last December, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif defended Iran’s right to carry out missile tests, claiming no Iranian missiles are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly said that its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.

By: AP and United with Israel Staff