Iran is increasing its missile range as conflict with US, Israel drags on

Iran said it is extending its missile range while keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed until the US meets seven conditions. The moves, alongside its rejection of a fresh nuclear offer, leave Qatar-led diplomacy under strain.

In Short

• Iran plans to extend missile range after recent war experience
• US forces now 1,000 km away from Iranian coast, says Tehran
• Iran denies offering new nuclear concessions for sanctions relief

Amid stalled diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is preparing to extend the range of its missiles after its war with the US and Israel. Tehran says American forces are now positioned as far as 1,000 km (621 miles) from its coast.

The announcement came as Iran continued to link any reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz to a set of conditions agreed during earlier diplomatic efforts with Washington. Tehran also rejected claims that it had offered fresh concessions on its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.

The developments point to a widening gap between Washington and Tehran, even as Qatar continues to carry messages between the two sides in an attempt to revive diplomacy and restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

IRAN TO EXTEND MISSILE RANGE

Iranian Army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said Tehran had drawn clear military lessons from the recent war and had already begun work to increase the range of its missiles. Speaking to Fars news agency on Sunday, Akraminia said the change was prompted directly by the experience of the conflict.

"During this war, we concluded that we absolutely must increase the range of our missiles, and we have now moved in that direction," he said.

This comes as US forces have reportedly moved farther away from Iran's coastline. According to Akraminia, US troops are now positioned as far as 1,000 km (621 miles) from the Iranian coast.

The change in US military positioning appears to have influenced Tehran's assessment of its missile requirements. By extending the reach of its missile arsenal, Iran would seek to ensure that targets farther from its territory remain within range.

HORMUZ REMAINS CLOSED

While Iran is signalling a military build-up, Tehran is also keeping the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of its diplomatic demands. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the waterway would not reopen until seven conditions agreed upon in a June interim understanding with the US are fulfilled.

Ghalibaf, who is also Iran's top negotiator, said Tehran's position was firm and that Washington should not expect the diplomatic process to continue indefinitely without concrete action.

"The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is completely clear and firm, and the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until our seven conditions, based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, are met," he was quoted as saying.

He added that the US "must understand that the period of dragging out the (diplomatic) process and dictating one-sided demands is over".

TEHRAN OFFERED A SEVEN-DAY PATH

Iran had presented a proposal during the United Nations General Assembly outlining a possible route towards reopening the Strait. Under the proposal, normal maritime traffic could resume within seven days if the conditions set by Tehran were met.

Washington responded to the proposal last week through Qatari intermediaries, according to Iran.

Qatar has since been acting as a channel between Washington and Tehran as both sides try to find a way out of the confrontation. The diplomatic effort is focused not only on the Strait but also on the broader issues that triggered the conflict.

The seven conditions are linked to the June memorandum of understanding, which helped produce a brief ceasefire and included provisions concerning both the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme.

An official briefed on the talks told news agency Reuters the document currently being discussed includes a seven-day trust-building period. The objective is to revive an enhanced version of the June understanding, with concrete measures concerning Iran's nuclear activities.

IRAN DENIES FRESH NUCLEAR OFFER

At the same time, Tehran has pushed back against reports that it offered the International Atomic Energy Agency access to its nuclear facilities in exchange for sanctions relief.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Sunday that Tehran had communicated its broad position on the US response through mediators. However, he said there were still additional points that needed to be conveyed to Washington.

"The Americans' propositions are more or less in line with their previous positions, specifically on the nuclear issue," Baghaei said. He said Iran had made clear that its immediate focus was the Strait of Hormuz and restoring security in the waterway.

"We told them our focus at this stage is the issue of the Strait of Hormuz and the return to security in this waterway requires clear steps from the US," he said.

Baghaei also denied that Iran had entered into nuclear negotiations with Washington.

ARAQCHI WARNS US AGAINST MILITARY ACTION

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also struck a warning note during a meeting with foreign ambassadors and diplomats in Tehran on Sunday. He said Iran hoped Washington would choose diplomacy rather than military action. But he made clear that Tehran was preparing for another confrontation if the US returned to large-scale attacks.

"If they again move towards military solutions, we are more prepared than before and will take whatever action is necessary to defend ourselves," Araqchi said.

That threat, combined with Tehran's decision to expand its missile range, indicates that Iran is preparing for the possibility that diplomacy could fail.

For the time being, Qatar's mediation effort remains the main channel between Washington and Tehran. But with Iran refusing to reopen the Strait until its conditions are met, rejecting a fresh nuclear bargain and simultaneously expanding its missile capabilities, the diplomatic window remains fragile.

- Ends