On Saturday evening, Iran announced it successfully tested a new-medium range missile. This test comes after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Friday Iran would increase its military power "as a deterrent” against hostile nations.
Iran’s Defense Minister, General Amir Hatami, said that the purpose of this missile was to have "the ability to evade the enemy's air defense line and to be guided from the moment of launch until the target is hit turns Khoramshahr into a tactical missile.”
He also noted that Iran does "not seek permission from any country for producing various kinds of missile.”
Earlier this week, in a speech at the United Nations, President Trump called Iran a “rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos."
He also said Iran was a nation that uses "oil profits to fund Hezbollah and other terrorists groups."
He continued, "We cannot let a murderous regime continue these terrorists destabilizing while building dangerous missiles and we Hezbollah provide by an cannot if it provides cover for the eventual agreement of a nuclear program."
President Donald J. Trump confirmed the missile launch via Twitter Saturday evening.
Iran just test-fired a Ballistic Missile capable of reaching Israel.They are also working with North Korea.Not much of an agreement we have!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
Experts are alarmed by the increasing tension between the United States and Iran.
“With Iran we’re going to have to tighten up all of the measures we can to counteract Iranian influence in the region,” said retired four star General Wesley Clark on Fox News Saturday evening.
On the controversial Iran Deal, General Clark added the future is unclear as to what the best option is.
“I think we have to look at Iran very seriously…I don’t know what we can do with this agreement now…We don’t know if we throw it out, and throw out all restraints if they will get a nuclear weapon in 6-9months…But we do know is that we’ll need all the capabilities of the U.S. armed forces to be able to deal with Iran and North Korea at the same time.”
“We got great men and women in uniform, we’re going to need them all in the days ahead unfortunately.”