Iran revealed on Sunday that it successfully tested a new naval air defense missile during military drills in the Strait of Hormuz. This comes as the U.S. bolsters its military presence in the area.
According to the state-run Mehr News Agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy launched the Sayad 3-G missile, marking its first usage in the “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz” exercise.
The Sayad 3-G is a naval adaptation of Iran’s land-based air defense system. It has a reported range of about 150 kilometers (around 93 miles) and can be deployed from vertical launch systems on ships. Its primary role is to intercept military aircraft, maritime patrol planes, and high-altitude drones.
Interestingly, Iranian state media mentioned that this missile could also be integrated into shipboard radar systems and command centers while retaining independent tracking abilities.
This announcement emerges amidst rising tensions in the region, coupled with a persistent increase in U.S. military assets around Iran as negotiations regarding the nuclear program continue.
The U.S. has notably expanded its naval and air capabilities in the area, including aircraft carriers like the Abraham Lincoln and several missile destroyers in the Arabian Sea, alongside additional ships in the Mediterranean and Red Sea. Reports indicate that multiple warships are currently stationed in the Persian Gulf, close to Iran’s coastline.
Moreover, one U.S. military base in Saudi Arabia is shown to be accommodating aircraft, and there are plans for additional facilities to support air operations throughout the region.
In an interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that diplomacy is vital moving forward and downplayed the significance of the U.S. troop buildup. He stated, “We don’t need any military buildup. A military buildup can’t help that and it can’t put pressure on us.”
Araghchi also confirmed that Iranian and U.S. negotiators are set to reconvene in Geneva on Thursday, suggesting that reaching an agreement could be on the horizon. He stressed that the discussions would focus solely on the nuclear issue, excluding other topics.
