Iran Touts Improved Ballistic Missile and Signals Shift Toward Preemptive Action Doctrine

Iran's state news agency said Monday that the solid-fueled Qassem Basir ballistic missile, with a half-ton warhead and improved range and accuracy over the 745-mile range reported when it was unveiled last year, demonstrates that Tehran "will take action against any threat, even before it is carried out" 12. The report cited comments aired the prior day by Supreme National Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei, who claimed the missile had been "tested" against a U.S. warship, though it was unclear whether that test involved the Qassem Basir specifically 12. The U.S. said Saturday that ballistic missiles were fired at U.S. warships, which evaded them, and that it struck three Iranian oil tankers in response; experts called the warship targeting a dangerous escalation, since Iran's attacks at sea over six months of war had previously focused on commercial shipping 12. The White House rejected Rezaei's announced Strait of Hormuz "exclusion zone," saying the U.S. Navy has cleared the strait of mines and that as of Monday 94 commercial vessels had been redirected and three disabled 12. Kpler reported a sharp drop in strait transits last week, and UAE adviser Anwar Gargash said no single state should control the waterway 12.