Defense minister: Iran among world’s effective missile powers

Iran’s defense minister says the Islamic Republic has greatly developed its missile capability in the past years and is now among the world’s topmost missile powers.

Speaking on the sidelines of an exhibition displaying Iranian missile industries’ achievements, Amir Hatami said, “The enemy has owned up to the fact that it has lost its air superiority to us. Hereby, I announce that they have only witnessed our air force capability, but the same is true about other fields of defense.”

“In the field of missiles, we are highly capable and we are now among the world’s effective missile powers,” the Iranian defense minister added.

He said the Islamic Republic has spent a lot on its defensive power, noting that the enemy is not anymore speaking of a military attack against Iran as one of its “available options on the table.”

Hatami said the Defense Ministry has achieved all of its goals since he assumed the post almost four years ago.

“Our goal has been to acquire strategic weapons in all fields of combat, and today we are able to respond in accordance with any defensive situation,” he said.

The defense minister further said the Iranian Armed Forces have now access to high, medium- and low-range defense systems and radar systems, and they can also make use of military aircraft at different levels.

“This is a big obstacle against the enemy’s greed,” he added.

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Speaker: Iran after peace, friendly ties with neighbors

In a related development on Sunday, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf also attended the exhibition, saying that the Islamic Republic is seeking to increase its deterrence capabilities to protect its territory.

“We are after sustainable peace, tranquility and friendly relations with our neighbors and the Islamic Ummah (community), and we stand firm against any act of aggression,” he said.

Qalibaf said although he is familiar with military and security affairs, he was surprised by the extent of development and diversity in the field of ground security and defense.

The Parliament speaker lauded the production of such equipment and facilities for defending the Islamic Ummah and the oppressed as well as creating deterrence against the enemy, adding, “If one day the enemy looks at this land with greedy eyes, we will have the best defense with this equipment.”

Iran has repeatedly reassured its neighbors that its military power does not pose any threat to them as it is defensive in nature.

Tehran has also persistently dismissed accusations that it is after building nuclear bombs.

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