New York Times Refutes Trump’s Claim That Iran Possesses Tomahawk Missiles
The New York Times has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Iran possesses Tomahawk missiles, calling it inaccurate. The newspaper emphasized that Iran does not have such missiles, and the transfer of these weapons without official permission from the U.S. State Department is impossible.
According to the report, any country that purchased Tomahawk missiles from the United States requires Washington’s prior approval to transfer them to a third country, including Iran. Currently, only the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have these missiles, while Japan and the Netherlands, despite signing contracts, have not yet acquired them.
The New York Times further added that even if Iran somehow had access to such missiles, operating them would be extremely difficult. This is because programming the flight path, guidance, and launching of Tomahawk cruise missiles require specialized equipment and compatible launch platforms.
This statement comes amid reports from some American media outlets indicating evidence that the attacks on February 28 on a naval base and a primary school in southern Iran were carried out with American cruise missiles. ABC network, quoting experts who analyzed video footage of the attack, raised the possibility of Tomahawk missile use in the attack on a girls’ school in Minab.
Meanwhile, the human rights organization Human Rights Watch has called for investigations into possible war crimes following the bombing of this school. Reports indicate that dozens of civilians, including children, were killed in this attack.
Earlier, Donald Trump responded to journalists by stating that Iran possesses such missiles and that several other countries have purchased similar weapons from the United States; a claim now challenged by the New York Times.
