Categories: Hard NewsSecurity

Iran to test new missiles despite US sanctions: Defense minister

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says the Islamic Republic will unveil new domestically-designed and manufactured missiles in the near future in defiance of new US sanctions against the country over its missile program.

“[Any] attempt to impose new sanctions [against Iran] under irrelevant pretexts is indicative of the continued US hostile policy and acrimony toward the Iranian nation, and a futile effort to undermine Iran’s defense might,” Dehqan said on Monday.

He added that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s missile industry is fully domestically-manufactured and anchored in science and expertise of the country’s defense sector.

“Hence, sanctions against [certain] people and companies will have no impact on the development of the industry, and we will actually demonstrate [their ineffectiveness] by displaying new missiles,” he added.

Earlier on Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the country will continue to enhance its missile capabilities in defiance of the “destructive” US sanctions over the Islamic Republic’s missile program.

“We will respond to such propaganda stunts and disruptive measures by more robustly pursuing our lawful missile program and promoting our defense capabilities and national security,” the statement added.

It further noted that Iran’s missiles serve defensive and deterrent purposes and have not been designed to carry nuclear warheads.

“The Iranian missile program has by no means been designed to carry nuclear weapons and is not in contravention of any international principle,” the statement pointed out.

The US Department of the Treasury said in a statement on Sunday that it has imposed new sanctions on several individuals and firms over Iran’s ballistic missile program, claiming that the program “poses a significant threat to regional and global security.”

The statement said five Iranian citizens and a network of companies based in the United Arab Emirates and China were added to a US blacklist.

On October 11, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) successfully test-fired its first guided ballistic missile dubbed Emad. Washington slammed the test, claiming the projectile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. It vowed to respond with more sanctions.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly said its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.

 

Emad Askarieh

Emad Askarieh has worked as a journalist since 2002. The main focus of his work is foreign policy and world diplomacy. He started his career at Iran Front Page Media Group, and is currently serving as the World Editor and the Vice-President for Executive Affairs at the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website.

Recent Posts

Russia claims US ramped up search for alternative to Zelensky

The United States has ramped up its search for an alternative to Ukraine's President Volodymyr…

19 mins ago

Around 2,500 arrested at pro-Palestinian rallies at US universities

Nearly 2,500 people have been detained at pro-Palestinian rallies at college and university campuses across…

21 mins ago

Putin orders tactical nuclear weapons exercise

Moscow will test its ability to deploy tactical nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced on…

2 hours ago

Iranian daily: Taliban on ethnic cleansing rampage of Shias, Iran silent

An Iranian newspaper has slammed officials in Iran for turning a blind eye to what…

2 hours ago

Iran Leader: Israel would not dare to commit savage crimes without US support

The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Israel would not and…

3 hours ago

Israel calls on Gazans to evacuate eastern suburbs of Rafah

The Israeli army, ignoring international outcries, has issued urgent evacuation orders to Palestinian residents and…

5 hours ago