Iran displays underground missile layout

Iran on Wednesday aired for the first time footage of an underground missile line-up with launchers, just days after announcing the successful test-firing of a long range missile.

"The long range missile sites of Iran are located 500 meters deep underground in all the provinces and cities and are ready to be launched," the aerospace commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was quoted as saying by the website of the Guards Corps.

"We do not have any concerns about the most recent and advanced generations of the satellites and spying systems of the enemies of Iran," as the country's missile sites are hidden inside the mountains, Hajizadeh said.

Iran will replace its existing long range missiles with those of the new generation next year, which would operate with solid and liquid fuels, he said.

Iran will respond to the threats from beyond the borders, but will not be the starter of any war, the commander said, adding Iran will hold large-scale military drills in the near future.

Earlier on Sunday, Iran's defence ministry said they successfully test-fired a long range missile named "Emad". It was Iran's first long range missile that can be guided and controlled until hitting the target, the defence minister said.

The White House later said "strong indications" showed that Iran's recent test of the new precision-guided ballistic missile violated a UN Security Council resolution.

The US will work with its world partners "to engage a strategy to try to disrupt continued progress of their ballistic missile program," said the White House press secretary.

However, the White House insisted that the incident does not violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the international agreement on Tehran's nuclear program.

The P5+1 group, namely the US, Britain, France, China, Russia plus Germany, reached a nuclear deal with Iran in Vienna, Austria, on July 14.

The accord would provide sanctions relief for Iran in exchange for limits on its controversial nuclear program.