Pentagon report claims that Iran has boosted the capabilities of its ballistic missiles

A pentagon report, which was presented before the United States Congress last week and publicized today, claims that Iran has managed to enhance the capabilities of its ballistic missiles.

According to the report, the Iranian defence scientists have made the missiles more lethal and effective, as a result of improvements in the accuracy and payload sectors.

The American report also claims that the Iranian Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs) have achieved the capability to intercept and destroy marine vessels such as warships and speed-boats. The report, which was prepared under the supervision of the United States Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta, expresses significant amount of uneasiness over the increased strike capability of the Iranian Armed Forces.

According to the report, the improvement in the Iranian defence technology is not limited to the ballistic missiles alone, but extends to several other sectors such as warships, submarines and military helicopters. The report claims that Iran might be capable of testing an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) within the next three years.

Currently Iran is only having a series of Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) like Shahab-3 and Sejjil, which are having a maximum range of 2,500 kilometres. Six UN member nations have confirmed that they possess ICBMs, including the US and Russia. Nations such as China, India, UK and France have confirmed ICBM capability, while North Korea and Israel are said to be in the last phase of developing the ICBM technology. The Iranian Armed Forces have so far rejected the claims that they are trying to develop ICBMs.

Yuval Steinitz, the current Finance Minister of Israel had claimed earlier this year that he has sufficient proof to confirm that Iran will soon develop an ICBM, capable of targeting the USA. The Iranian missiles like Shahab-3 and Sejjil are currently capable of striking much of the Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Americans have expressed concern over the fact that the Iranian missiles are now capable of taking out warships and commercial vessels along the Arabian Gulf region. A large number of NATO warships are currently deployed in the region, and huge amounts of crude oil shipments pass through the routes located within the Gulf every day.