ALI AKBAR DAREINI
TEHRAN

IRAN said yesterday it has manufactured a new missile with a range of 1200 miles capable of reaching Israel and US bases in the Middle East, the official news agency IRNA reported.

Iran's Defence Minister General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said the Ashoura missile was produced by factories affiliated with the ministry, according to IRNA. He did not say whether Iran has test-fired the missile or has plans to do so.

Ashoura means "the tenth day" in Farsi, a sacred reference among Shi'ite Muslims to the martyrdom of the third imam.

Analysts believe much of Iran's military production has benefited from assistance from Russia, China and other countries, but many of their weapons claims have not been independently verified.

Iran launched an arms development programme during its war with Iraq to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has reportedly produced its own jets, torpedoes, radar-avoiding missiles, tanks and armoured personnel carriers.

Weapons production has been motivated by Iran's standoff with the US over its nuclear programme, which Washington claims is a cover for weapons development - a charge Tehran denies.-AP