Iran tested a new precision-guided ballistic missile in defiance of a United Nations ban, signaling an apparent advance in Iranian attempts to improve the accuracy of its missile arsenal. The Islamic Republic has one of the largest missile programs in the Middle East, but its potential effectiveness has been limited by poor accuracy. A successful launch of the new missile, named Emad, which will be Iran’s first precision-guided weapon with the range to strike its regional arch-enemy Israel.

The U.N. Security Council prohibits foreign powers from assisting Iran in developing its ballistic missile program in any way, a ban that will remain in place under the terms of the July 14 nuclear deal that will see other sanctions lifted.

The United Nations also prohibits Iran from undertaking any activity related to ballistic missiles that could deliver a nuclear warhead, which applies to the Emad, but Iranian officials have pledged to ignore the ban. Iran says its nuclear activity is wholly peaceful. Israel is widely presumed to have the Middle East’s only nuclear weapons.

Emad would have a range of 1,700 km and a 750 kg payload. It is a variant of the liquid-fuelled Shahab-3 missile, which has been in service since 2003 and has a similar range. The Emad represents a major leap in terms of accuracy. It has an advanced guidance and control system in its nose cone. In August, Iran unveiled a new short-range missile named Fateh-313, which it said also offered improved precision over its predecessor.

The Fateh-313 has solid fuel, allowing it to be set up and launched faster than liquid-fuelled missiles, and a range of 500 km.