Iran has efficiently launched a 2,000km-range (1,243m) ballistic missile, in response to the nation's state media - two days after the chief of Israel's armed forces raised the prospect of "action" towards Tehran over its nuclear programme.

With one of many greatest missile programmes within the Middle East, Iran says its weapons are able to reaching bases within the area operated by Israel and the US.

Tehran has stated it will additional develop its "defensive" missile programme, regardless of opposition from the US and European international locations.

"Our message to Iran's enemies is that we will defend the country and its achievements. Our message to our friends is that we want to help regional stability," Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Iran's defence minister, stated.

Footage of an upgraded model of Iran's Khorramshahr 4 ballistic missile, with a spread of 1,243 miles (2,000km) that may carry a 1,500kg (3,300lb) warhead, was broadcast on state TV.

State news company IRNA reported that the missile was referred to as Kheibar, which is a reference to a Jewish fortress overrun by Muslim warriors within the early days of Islam.

Israel, which isn't recognised by the Islamic Republic, views Iran as an existential menace.

Iran claims ballistic missiles are an necessary deterrent in addition to a retaliatory pressure towards the US, Israel and different potential regional adversaries.

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On Tuesday, Israel's high common raised the prospect of "action" towards Iran as efforts by six world powers to revive Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal have stalled since final September amid rising Western fears about Tehran's accelerating nuclear advances.

Former US president Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear settlement in 2018 and reimposed US sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to violate a number of the pact's nuclear restrictions in retaliation.

His successor, Joe Biden, pledged to rejoin the accord wherein Iran agreed to dismantle a lot of its nuclear programme and open its amenities to extra intensive worldwide inspections in alternate for sanctions aid.