Iran says it could destroy Israel in eight minutes following missile tests

An Iranian military commander stated that the country has the missile capability to destroy Israel in less than eight minutes; a clear indication of the continuing hostility towards the Jewish state that shows no signs of abating. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, further demonstrated his opposition to Israel and has called for its extinction on several occasions. This latest display of antagonism follows the test fire of a long-range ballistic missile two weeks previously that the authorities claim could reach Israel in under eight minutes. This is part of their determination to wipe out what they claim is an aggressive Zionist regime that poses a threat to surrounding Arab nations. The ongoing confrontation regarding the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, a site of holy significance for both Jews and Arabs, is used as justification by both sides for acts of military aggression.

Iran has boasted it is capable of destroying Israel 'in less than eight minutes' - two weeks after testing missiles which can reach the state.

Senior military adviser Ahmad Karimpour said the country had the capacity to 'raze the Zionist regime' using the 'abilities and equipment' Iran had at its disposal.

The warning came just weeks after Iran claimed to have successfully tested 2,000km-range missiles capable of hitting Israel.

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Iran claims to have successfully tested 2,000km-range missiles capable of hitting Israel - which opponents say can carry nuclear warheads (file picture)

According to the Times of Israel, Karimpour - an adviser to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ elite unit al-Quds Force - said: 'If the Supreme Leader’s orders [are] to be executed, with the abilities and the equipment at our disposal, we will raze the Zionist regime in less than eight minutes.'

Earlier this month, Tehran military chiefs hailed the accuracy of a rocket it claimed could leave the Earth's atmosphere before hitting its target 'without error'.

'A missile with a 2,000-kilometre range was tested two weeks ago,' said General Ali Abdolahi, adding that it has a negligible margin of error of just eight metres (yards).

'We can guide this ballistic missile. It leaves the Earth's atmosphere, re-enters it and hits the target without error,' the armed forces deputy chief-of-staff said, quoted by the website of state broadcaster IRINN.

In early March, Iran carried out several short, medium and long-range (300 to 2,000 kilometres) precision missile tests across its territory, mostly from underground bases.

The series of tests have come in for criticism from the United State, Britain, France and Germany.

The warning came just weeks after Iran claimed to have successfully tested 2,000km-range missiles capable of hitting Israel

They say the tests violate United Nations resolutions, and they have called on the Security Council to address them.

Opponents of the programme say the weapons are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, an argument categorically denied by Tehran's political and military authorities.

Tehran's ballistic missile tests in late 2015 brought new sanctions by the US against Iran on January 17.

The punitive measures were announced a day after international sanctions were lifted following the entry into force of a July 2015 nuclear agreement.

Iran's parliament, whose mandate expires at the end of May, passed new legislation this month that raises the country's ballistic capability.