According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Fridayday August 07, 2026, a senior Iranian cleric has claimed that Iran is preparing to expand the range of its missiles to 15,000 kilometres, a capability he said would allow the country to reach targets deep inside the United States.

Abdolnabi Mousavifard, the Friday prayer leader in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz, made the remarks during a public address, stating that Tehran was working to strengthen its missile capabilities.

“We are preparing ourselves so that the American people, too, will see what it is like to be hit by missiles and understand what it means to be left in blood and destruction,” Mousavifard said.

The cleric also claimed that Iran’s existing missile systems are already capable of reaching areas as far as Jerusalem, which he estimated to be around 2,000 kilometres from Iran.

During the speech, Mousavifard led supporters in chants calling for “revenge” and expressed hope that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would face defeat at the hands of Iranian forces.

The remarks come amid continued tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States, with missile capabilities remaining one of the most sensitive issues in regional security discussions.

Iran has consistently emphasized the importance of its missile programme as a key part of its defence strategy, while critics in Israel and the West have raised concerns over the potential reach and purpose of Tehran’s military developments.

The latest comments by the Iranian cleric have drawn attention as regional tensions remain elevated, with competing claims from Tehran and its opponents shaping ongoing debates over military power and deterrence in the Middle East.

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