Iran has tripled production of “military equipment,” meaning its ballistic missiles, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh claimed.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel
The “hostile plots to place constraints on Iran’s military programs” will encourage Iran’s military to enhance its capabilities and development, warned Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force.
Addressing a ceremony in Tehran on Wednesday, Hajizadeh made it clear to “the enemies” that their attempts to limit Iran’s military power would have the opposite outcome.
Iran claims its military development, and specifically its missile program, is for defense purposes only. However, many of these weapons were given to the Hezbollah terror organization and used against Israel’s civilian population during the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006.
Claiming that Iran’s production of “military equipment” has tripled, referring to the country’s missile program, Hajizadeh said “all political officials and the parliament are now serious to help boost the country’s defense capabilities.”
Iran’s missiles can currently hit any point in the Middle East, including Israel and US military bases, as well as parts of Europe. Iranian military officials have boasted that the country can easily enough increase the range of its missiles.
The West is also worried about Iranian missiles capable of carrying nuclear payloads.
Hajizadeh further took a swipe at “the enemies” for expanding their military stockpiles, while they brand Iran’s defense missiles as weapons of mass destruction, echoing a demand by Deputy Chief of Staff and Spokesman of Iran’s Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazzayeri who announced over the weekend that Tehran will hold talks on its missile program only if the US and European countries destroy their atomic warheads and long-range missiles.
“Annihilation of the US and Europe’s nuclear weapons and long-range missiles is the prerequisite for negotiations on Iran’s missiles,” Jazzayeri said.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in October categorically rejected the idea of negotiations on Iran’s “defense power,” stressing that the country will press ahead with plans to build up its military’s capabilities.
“As we have announced several times in the past and announce it once again, the country’s defense capabilities and power are not subject to negotiations and bargaining,” Khamenei said.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to use its missiles against Israel.