DM: Iran to Continue Enhancement of Missile Power

“The enemies of the country know that we firmly and immediately respond to any threat and aggression based on the plans and measures decided by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the commander-in-chief (of Armed Forces Ayatollah Khamenei),” General Hatami said, addressing the Army cadets in Tehran on Monday.

He underlined the necessity for increasing the Armed Forces’ defense power despite the harshest sanctions imposed against Iran in the military field.

General Hatami expressed confidence that the Iranian nation which has come victorious out of many problems in the past 40 years would be able to go through the difficulties of the current time by reliance on internal capacities and young people.

General Hatami had also in August underlined his country’s astonishing progress in producing different types of weapons and missiles, saying that Iran was able to protect its security by conventional warheads.

Iran’s defense industry has arrived at a point where all its produced missiles enjoy pin-pointing accuracy, General Hatami said, addressing a ceremony to unveil the powerful indigenized missile shield named Bavar 373 in Tehran.

“According to the strategic decision of the Islamic Republic of Iran and based on the important and historical fatwas of the Leader of the Revolution regarding missiles, we have not designed any missiles with unconventional warheads and we commit ourselves to maintain the deterrence power only with the conventional warheads. We are focusing on the effectiveness of missiles through improving their precision, maneuverability, speed and conventional explosive power to defeat enemy defense systems, and, thanks God, great progress has been made,” he added.

“I proudly announce today that we have arrived at the edge of science and technology in many areas,” General Hatami said, adding that the defense industry can also technologically support non-military industries of the country.

He also said that Armed Forces of the country support foreign policy with all its might.

“During the past one year, the variety and complexity of threats (against Iran) required Armed Forces to continue improving their readiness while the macro policy of Iran was to prove Iran’s legitimate rights by implementing strategic patience in the face of excessive demands and bullying behavior of enemies. And with this readiness, we strongly support the country’s foreign policy in times of tension,” said General Hatami, noting that downing an intruding US spy drone and also seizing UK-flagged oil tanker after it had violated international maritime rules were the climax of such support.

“While the Islamic Republic of Iran seeks peace and friendship in the region and in the world, the enemy has brought all its might to damage the Iranian nation,” he said

General Hatami underlined enemy’s heavy deployment of military forces and equipment in the region, and said that they are targeting our national security and independence with the “most evil intentions”.

“In these circumstances, an ensuring defense power is needed to maintain peace, stability and security of people and the Islamic Republic, as well as the country’s territorial integrity and the Revolution’s achievements.”