Top Iranian commander says country has developed long-range cruise missile

Iran has developed a cruise missile with a range of 1,650 km (1,025 miles) a senior Iranian commander said on Friday, adding that the Islamic Republic is now manufacturing hypersonic missiles.

"Our cruise missile with a range of 1,650 kilometers has been added to the missile arsenal of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Aerospace Division of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

Hajizadeh made the remarks during a televised program on Thursday.

He also stated that the country had managed to reduce the weight of its long-range missiles to one-fourth and the time needed for their preparation to a sixth.

Hajizadeh, also said Iran is developing and manufacturing hypersonic missiles.

The hypersonic missile can travel at Mach 12-13 and is capable of exoatmospheric maneuvering, he remarked, saying the projectile is outfitted with an engine that starts within 500 kilometers (310 miles) or a shorter distance of the target's location to enable its maneuverability.

The projectile cannot be destroyed by any of the enemy’s anti-missile systems, he said, adding, "I express confidently that the enemies will not be capable of developing a similar missile over many upcoming decades."

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