The Claim From Donald Trump
In recent comments regarding the missiles that involved Iran, US President Donald Trump indicated that Iran might have the Tomahawk Cruise Missiles and that it is possible that Iran could have used a Tomahawk missile in a deadly attack that destroyed a girls’ school in the Iranian city of Minab. When questioned by reporters regarding evidence of a US missile strike, President Trump indicated that it is possible that a Tomahawk missile could have been launched by another country, such as Iran, and that “Iran also has some Tomahawks.”
This claim is of significant interest to journalists, military analysts, and politicians due to information that is generally known about the Tomahawk missile and which countries are known to possess this missile technology.
From a review of publicly available military information and data, it is not possible to find evidence to support this claim.
What Is a Tomahawk Missile?
The Tomahawk cruise missile is a long-range, precision-guided cruise missile system primarily utilized by the US military. The system is designed to be launched from naval platforms, which can launch this missile and destroy targets over 1,000 miles away.
The Tomahawk cruise missile is produced by Raytheon, a leading defense company based in America. The system has been at the core of US military activities since the 1990s. The system is primarily deployed to destroy high-value targets, including military bases, radar systems, and command centers.
This system is not easy to transfer and utilize without proper technological and technical assistance due to the need for launch platforms and command centers.
Which Countries Actually Have Tomahawks?
According to military experts, only a few countries have access to Tomahawk cruise missiles. Besides the US, this cruise missile has been sold to only a few of America’s closest allies. According to fact-checking reports based on opinions of defense analysts, it is clear that Iran does not have this kind of missile.
According to Mark Cancian, who is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, it is evident that Iran does not have Tomahawk missiles despite developing many types of missiles. The Middlebury Institute of International Studies experts have confirmed that Iran does not have Tomahawks in their arsenal.
Courtesy Of jessm1000 (Flickr CC0)Iran’s Actual Missile Capabilities
While Iran does not have access to Tomahawk missiles, it has developed an impressive array of missiles over the years. Iran has developed several missiles, including ballistic and cruise missiles, capable of reaching targets across the Middle East.
Some of the better-known Iranian missiles include the Soumar cruise missile and the Hoveyzeh cruise missile, both of which are thought to be derived from old Soviet missiles. They have different physical attributes compared to the Tomahawk missiles.
Experts say that Iranian cruise missiles are physically different from the Tomahawk missiles, including their launch and guidance systems. Experts say that even if Iran somehow manages to lay its hands on Tomahawk missiles, it would still not have the necessary equipment to launch them.
The School Strike Controversy
The comments were made after video footage and analysis indicated that a Tomahawk missile hit an area near the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab and resulted in the deaths of a large number of civilians, including children. Investigators analyzing the video footage concluded that the missile in the video appeared to resemble the Tomahawk missile.
An analysis of satellite images and video footage of the strike by analysts at Bellingcat and other experts concluded that the missile was likely used in strikes by the U.S. targeting nearby facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The incident is under investigation by the U.S. military, and no conclusions have been made public.
Expert Reactions
The suggestion of Iran having Tomahawks was met with criticism by lawmakers and security experts.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer strongly disagreed with Trump’s claim and stated in the Senate floor that “Iran doesn’t have Tomahawk missiles.”
Even Republican lawmakers were of the opinion that the matter should be looked into and determined what actually happened and who was behind it.
It is believed that defense experts were confused by Trump’s use of Tomahawks as if it was any cruise missile. Tomahawks actually refer to something owned by few countries.
Why the Claim Matters
Misinformation pertaining to military capabilities may have major implications, particularly in an ongoing conflict. For instance, it is essential to understand military capabilities and who is involved in carrying out attacks for military accountability and public diplomacy.
Inconsistencies in determining who was involved in a deadly strike may hinder investigations into civilian deaths and strained relations between countries in conflict.
In this particular instance, it is noted that it is essential to understand who has access to Tomahawk missiles in order to understand what occurred in the Minab strike.
The Verdict
The available evidence does not support Trump’s claim of Iran using Tomahawk missiles.
All defense experts, fact-checking sites, and military analysts agree that there is no evidence of Iran using the Tomahawk Cruise Missiles. Only the U.S. and its few trusted allies are known to have this capability.
Although Iran has an impressive arsenal of missiles, none of them are Tomahawks.
As investigations into the Minab strike are ongoing, there is still no evidence to support the claim of Iran using Tomahawks.
By William Hernandez
Journalist for Vlixx Magazine, reporting on news from around the world, ensuring timely, accurate, and detailed information to keep the public informed and educated.
Sources:
PBS: Fact-checking Trump’s claim that Iran has Tomahawk missiles
CNN: Fact check: Trump’s latest false, unproven and contradictory claims about the Iran war
Featured Image Courtesy of Steven Tjung Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of jessm1000 Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
