Iran is increasing missile range as conflict with US, Israel drags on — SkimNews
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- Iran's Army said Tehran has begun work to extend the range of its missiles, with spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia telling Fars news agency on Sunday that the decision came directly from lessons learned in the recent war with the US and Israel.
- Akraminia noted US forces are now positioned as far as 1,000 km (621 miles) from Iran's coast, a pullback that Iran says is driving its push to ensure distant targets remain within reach.
- Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, who is also Iran's chief negotiator, said the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until seven conditions in the June Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding are fulfilled and warned the US that the era of "dragging out" diplomacy is over.
- Iran presented a UN General Assembly proposal for a seven-day trust-building period to restore normal maritime traffic if its conditions are met; Washington responded last week through Qatari intermediaries, and Qatar continues shuttling between the two sides.
- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei denied reports that Iran offered the IAEA access to nuclear facilities in exchange for sanctions relief, insisting Tehran's current focus is the Strait of Hormuz and that additional points still need to be conveyed to Washington.
- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told foreign diplomats in Tehran that Iran hopes the US chooses diplomacy but is "more prepared than before" for another confrontation if Washington returns to large-scale attacks.
Why it matters: Iran is coupling a military buildup — extended-range missiles explicitly tied to war lessons — with refusal to reopen a chokepoint carrying a major share of global oil shipments until seven specific conditions are met, meaning a single failed diplomatic exchange now carries both military and economic escalation risks for Tehran, Washington, and global shipping.
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