TEHRAN: Iran announced on Wednesday it successfully test fired an upgraded version of its longest-range missile, which is capable of hitting Israel and parts of Europe and which it said is now faster and harder to shoot down.

The test is Iran’s latest show of military strength at a time when it is locked in a standoff with the West over its nuclear program. Tehran has been intent on demonstrating it can retaliate against any military strike on its nuclear facilities by the United States or Israel.

Wednesday’s test was for the latest version of Iran’s most advanced missile, the Sejil-2, with a range of about 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers). That range places Israel well within reach, as well as US bases in the Gulf region and parts of southeastern Europe.

The two-stage Sejil-2 is powered entirely by solid-fuel while the older, long-range Shahab-3 missile uses a combination of solid and liquid fuel in its most advanced form. State television broke the news in a one-sentence report accompanied by a brief clip of the test, showing the missile rising from the launch pad in a cloud of smoke.

Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi vowed that the Sajil-2 would be a “strong deterrent” against any possible foreign attack. He said the new version can be fired more quickly and flies faster than previous ones, though he did not give further details.

“Given its high speed,” he said, speaking on state TV, “it is impossible to destroy the missile with anti-missile systems because of its radar-evading ability.” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor declined to comment on Iran’s latest missile test.

The Sejil-2 was first tested in May. Iranian officials touted it as a breakthrough over the Sejil-1 unveiled months earlier, saying the new missile had a more sophisticated navigation system. The Sejil-2 was tested a second time in September.

Solid-fuel missiles like the Sejil-2 are more accurate than the liquid-fuel missiles of similar range currently possessed by Iran.

The missile test coincides with increased tension over Iran’s nuclear program, which the West fears is aimed at making bombs.