Iran has equipped its elite Revolutionary Guards with a new surface-to-surface ballistic missile, the Qiam-1, which was built locally and test-fired in August, Iranian media reported on Monday.

"Mass production of the Qiam (Rising) missile, the first locally built missile with no fins, shows Iran's self-sufficiency in manufacturing different kinds of missiles," the hardline Kayhan daily quoted Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi as saying.

During a ceremony to mark the delivery of the missile on Sunday, Vahidi said the indigenous manufacturing of the missile is "a disgrace to those who claim that Iran is cooperating with other nations" to make such missiles.

He was reacting to a UN report on sanctions that says Iran and North Korea are suspected of sharing ballistic missile technology.

"The Qiam-1 missile is designed in a way that reduces its detection by anti-missile systems of enemies, has high velocity and high precision in hitting targets," Vahidi added.

He gave no other details on the technology used in the making of the missile, which according to some Western experts is a derivative of the Shahab-2, itself derived from Soviet Scud B, which has a range of around 500 kilometers (310 miles).

Iran says it has a wide range of missiles, some capable of striking targets inside arch-foe Israel as well as US bases in the Middle East.

The Islamic republic regularly boasts about developing missiles having substantial range and capabilities, but Western military experts cast doubt on its claims.

Iran's missile programme is under the control of the Guards, who are responsible for the majority of their operational use.

Its space and missile programmes have been a concern in the West, which fears Tehran is developing a ballistic capability in order to launch potential nuclear weapons which it suspects Iran is aiming to develop under the guise of its civilian atomic programme.

Iran has steadfastly denied these Western charges, saying its nuclear and space programmes have no military objectives.

earlier related report
EU imposes new sanctions on Iran
Dublin (AFP) May 23, 2011 - The United States on Monday welcomed Europe's move in expanding its sanctions on Iran, saying the world would continue to hold the Islamic Republic accountable for its nuclear activities.

The European Union earlier added more than 100 firms to a blacklist of companies hit by an assets freeze, in what it said was a bid to jumpstart international talks aimed at convincing Iran to halt its nuclear activities.

"The United States welcomes the decision of the European Union to expand its sanctions on Iran," said White House spokesman Jay Carney, in a statement issued in Dublin during President Barack Obama's visit to Ireland.

"So long as Iran refuses to fulfill its international obligations, the international community will respond by continuing to hold Iran accountable, implement fully all UN Security Council resolutions, and aggressively counter Iranian proliferation activities.

"The United States remains fully committed to the peaceful resolution of international concerns regarding Iran's nuclear programme."

Among firms added to the list is the European-Iranian Trade Bank (EIH), a German-based Iranian-owned concern, along with five individuals who will face an assets freeze and EU travel ban, a diplomat said.

An official in Berlin told AFP last week that "evidence pointing to the EIH's involvement in (nuclear) proliferation has multiplied and become tangible."

The United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia have engaged in on-and-off talks with Iran aimed at halting its uranium enrichment programme.

Western powers fear that Iran is seeking to build a nuclear bomb, but Tehran denies the charge, insisting that it is merely trying to meet its people's energy needs.

The EU and the United States have slapped unilateral sanctions on Iran on top of four sets of punitive measures imposed by the UN Security Council.