Commander: Missile Power among Iran’s Redlines
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri underlined that efforts to boost the country’s missile power will continue seriously and that no one is allowed to interfere in issues related to the country’s defense capabilities.
“As has already been announced, the plan to develop the Islamic Republic’s missile and defense power has nothing to do with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” Brigadier General Jazayeri said on Thursday.
He made the remarks in reaction to recent reports that the Obama administration is preparing to impose its first financial sanctions on Iran since Tehran and six world powers, including the US, reached a landmark nuclear agreement, also known as the JCPOA, in July.
“The recent move by the Americans shows the depth of their grudge against the Iranian nation and Establishment,” the commander stated.
“The defense capacities and particularly the missile power of Iran’s Armed Forces are among the country’s redlines,” Brigadier General Jazayeri said, adding that the Armed Forces will follow their plans powerfully and seriously based on the guidelines of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
Back in October, Iran successfully test-fired a homegrown ballistic missile dubbed ‘Emad’, a long-range guided projectile that can hit targets with high precision.
Using the missile test as a pretext, US officials announced on Wednesday that the Treasury Department will put in the blacklist nearly a dozen companies and individuals in Iran, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates for their alleged role in developing Iran’s ballistic-missile program.
Tehran has denied that the missile launch was in violation of UN resolutions, with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying that it was not designed to carry nuclear warheads.
Iran’s test of missiles is an issue relating to defense of its territorial integrity and has nothing to do with the comprehensive nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers or with a subsequent resolution the UNSC passed to endorse the accord, Iran’s foreign minister underscored in October.
