Iran claimed to have carried out a successful test of its long-range missile, Ashura, on 27 November 2007, which has the capability to strike targets in Israel and US bases in the Middle East. The missile is named after the Shia holy day of mourning the death of Prophet Mohammed's grandson, Husayn ibn Ali, in 680. It is a multi-staged missile with a stated range of 2,000 km. However, no technical details or photographs of the test are available. Therefore, the technical parameters of the Ashura missile are unclear. But this test establishes that Iran is investing a lot of money and hard work to improve its existing arsenal of ballistic missiles and develop longer range missiles to protect itself in any future conflict with the US or Israel. Iran is in no mood to give up its nuclear and missile programs despite sanctions and the US threat of taking military action against it.

It should be noted however that Iran has a track record of making exaggerated statements about its military capability to serve its domestic purposes and confuse international military observers. The successful working of such a missile system requires guidance systems and a re-entry vehicle. Technical experts working in the missile area doubted Iran's capabilities in this regard. Over the last eight years, Iran has conducted some 10 tests of the Shahab 3 missile. These are low level missile tests, and half of them ended in total or partial failure. With this record, no country can hope to deploy this missile.

Iran's missile test could have two important implications for international affairs. First, trigger a new arms race in the Middle East and, second, strengthen the US case for acquiring Ballistic Missile Defenses (BMD). As Iran's missiles target Israel, it will also work to improve its ballistic missiles. Syria will also work to improve its missile arsenal. After Iran's Ashura missile test, there are reports that Syria is negotiating with Russia to purchase anti-aircraft missile systems that would be capable of shooting down Israeli warplanes. Syria has made an urgent request to Russia for shoulder fired SA-18 anti-aircraft weapons. It is expected that Syria will get these new missiles within two years. Lebanon suspects that Syria could transfer these missiles to the Hezbollah which would harm US and Israeli interests.

The other implication of the Iran ballistic missile test is that it builds the case for the US BMD system. The US believes that, even if Iran does not have capability to target the US bases in the Middle East or target the US or Europe, it could develop this capability in future. The US does not want to take any risk when it comes to protecting its strategic interests. This test could speed up US plans to have radars and interceptors in the Czech Republic and Poland. But interceptors and radars in the Czech Republic could only deal with Iran missiles targeted at Europe. Iran is, however, far from developing this capability. Instead, the US should pay more attention to the development of the Theater Missile Defense (TMD) in the Middle East to protect US bases and its allies in a future war. This would not lead to any objections by Russia and would protect the US regional interests in the Middle East.

The building of missiles by states has created a "security dilemma." John Baylis describes a security dilemma thus, "Policymakers believe that their own armaments are defensive while those of others are often seen as offensive. What makes the policies of others appear offensive is a matter of political judgment about the threat which is conditioned by a wide range of issues, including historical animosity, ideology, alliance affiliations, and contemporary military policies." Iran builds missiles due to historical reasons of war, going back to its war with Iraq. During the Iran-Iraq war, Iraq's strength derived from its superiority in missiles and rockets. At that time, Iran did not have missiles, and had been isolated by international players. Iran suffered chemical and biological attacks by Iraq. The present development of missiles by Iran had led to a sense of insecurity in the US bases in Iraq, and in Israel, both of which do not have good relations with Iran. Hence, the US has moved forward with its BMD and TMD programs to counter Iranian missiles, which has increased the sense of insecurity to other states like China and Russia, leading to further development and proliferation of ballistic missiles.