Photo taken on Sept. 22, 2017 shows a scene of military parade in Tehran, Iran. Iran on Friday marked the 37th anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war, which broke out in September 1980 and lasted through August 1988. (Xinhua/Ma Xiao)
TEHRAN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Despite the U.S. concerns over the developments of Iran's missile program, the Islamic republic on Friday unveiled a new long-range ballistic missile during military parade in the capital Tehran.
The missile, named Khorramshahr, was put on display during the military parade, as the country marked the start of the Week of Defense, commemorating Iranian sacrifices during the eight-year Iraq-Iran war in the 1980s.
The ballistic missile, which has a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles), is capable of carrying multiple warheads, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Division, told reporters on Friday on the sidelines of the parade.
"The missile has become smaller in size (compared to other Iranian ballistic missiles) and more tactical, and it will be operational in the near future," Hajizadeh said without further elaboration.
Iran's army, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and the volunteer militia Basij forces participated in the parade, which is annually held to remember the 1980-1988 war between Iraq and Iran.
In the ceremony Iran's most advanced military power and abilities were also showcased.
Iran also displayed myriad of its home-made advanced missiles, including ballistic missiles, which are reported to have a range of 1,300 km-2,000 km.
Simultaneously, a large-scale military parade was also held in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, involving a range of naval watercraft, according to Tasnim news agency.
In Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said at the event that Iran will continue its missile capabilities and defense programs heedless of western pressures.
"We will develop our defensive and military power as much as necessary ..., and to this end Iran seeks no permission from anybody," he said.
He stressed that Iran's military power will be deployed for deterrent purposes.
Iran will defend the oppressed people of Yemen, Syria, and Palestine despite the will of some arrogant powers, he maintained.
The Iranian president reiterated his despise to the recent U.S. and Israel stances against the Islamic republic in the UN General Assembly.
Washington and Tel Aviv accused Tehran of destabilizing the Middle East and supporting terror, which Iranian officials vehemently rejected.
The U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, and commented that Iran's continuing missile program has violated the spirit of the deal.
Trump has suggested that the Iranian missiles might be used for carrying a nuclear warhead, the allegations which Iran has rejected.
