Iran to keep missile program alive

Hossein Dehqan who was addressing a meeting of the ministry on Monday, emphasized that Iran’s missile program had been not a subject for nuclear negotiations and would continue stronger than ever.

“Nuclear deal was the outcome of national resistance, Leader’s sagacious measures, and perseverance by nuclear negotiators; the deal bolstered Islamic Republic of Iran’s positions vis-à-vis world powers; this is the first step in solving the nuclear stalemate, which would entail adherence to Islamic Republic of Iran’s redlines and restoring of Iranians’ national trust upon international bodies,” said Dehqan.

“In our defense doctrine, no place has been assigned to unconventional weapons; production, stockpile and using WMD is religiously forbidden; the US officials by now should find out that our defensive power and deterrence do not rely on such weapons and artillery; we would not seek permission by any power, and would develop our own arms according to threats present on the field,” he emphasized.

“Missile industry has not been a subject to debate for nuclear negotiations,” added the minister, criticizing the US as ‘saber rattling and who assumed that they could pose anything to Iran.’ “This assumption is misguided, since they would not know Iranians well,” Dehqan argued.

“The claims made by US officials on the extent and scope of impact of their threat on Iran’s national will is a source of surprise, which shows well the depth of Zionist lobbies’ domination over their decision-making centers, since these centers seek to secure Israel's interests, squandering millions of dollars of American tax payers in placating Zionist circles,” Dehqan told the meeting.

About US nuclear test-firing just after signing of nuclear deal with Iran within the 5+1, Dehqan said that the test-firing would demonstrate well their lack of commitment to global peace and security, which would precipitate the crisis of confidence by other independent nations on the US; “now, our national political resolve on general abhorrence of developing nuclear weapons has been crystal clear before international community; the nuclear disarmament, which tops the NPT agenda, should provide the terra firma for global peace guaranty to which the US is a pivot,” he further held.