Iran fields 'massive' number of missile launchers

TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian semi-official news agency reports the country has fielded a "massive" number of new long-range missile launchers.

The Sunday report by Fars quotes Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi as saying the new weapons enable Iranian forces to "crush the enemy" with the mass simultaneous fire of long-range surface-to-surface missiles.

The report did not specify the type of missile that would be fired, nor more details on the number of launchers deployed.

Some of Iran's surface-to-surface missiles are estimated to have ranges of over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles), capable of hitting its arch-foe Israel and the U.S. bases in the region.

Vahidi did not specify who was the "enemy" and said Iran would never start a war.

From time to time Iran announces military achievements that cannot be independently verified.