Iran boosts missile prowess to increase deterrence: Defense minister

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan says the Islamic Republic will boost its missile capabilities in the shortest time possible to increase its effective deterrent power.

“[We] will develop appropriate plans at the shortest time possible to increase missile and defense capabilities and boost effective deterrent power despite a demand by the global arrogance [which seeks] to limit the Islamic Republic’s military [might],” Dehghan told reporters on Saturday following a meeting with Iranian missile program commanders and officials.

Stressing that Iran has never allowed other countries to make decisions about the country’s internal and defense issues, the Iranian minister said that the Islamic Republic’s measures will guarantee and improve stability and security in the region and across the world.

He said the Zionist lobby and extremists in the US seek to undermine a nuclear agreement reached between Iran and P5+1 group of countries – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany – in July, 2015.

He, however, emphasized that Iran is determined to fulfill its obligations under the agreement dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and said it will counter excessive demands by the US and the West.

Dehghan’s remarks came in response to President Hassan Rouhani’s letter on December 31, which ordered stepped-up production of missiles after reports that the US was preparing fresh sanctions on international companies and individuals in Iran.

On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal said the White House had delayed plans to slap new sanctions on Iran but added that the measures remained on the table.