Iran intends to increase missile, ammunition range: Air Force commander

Iran intends to expand the range of its air-to-air missiles and has carried out very good measures in this regard, commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh says.

"One of our most important programs is increasing the range of missiles and ammunition," Nasirzadeh said in an interview with Fars news agency on Tuesday.

"We are after standoff missiles and ammunition and see no limitations for ourselves in this field because the Air Force should boost the country's deterrent power along with other [Armed] Forces," he added.

The commander emphasized that IRIAF has a "very extensive" plan in the field of long-range and smart ammunition and missiles.

He noted that IRIAF also aims to enhance the radar systems of its fighter jets to be able to hit the target sooner and with more precision.

Nasirzadeh emphasized that Iran enjoys great missile capabilities and its defense industry is manufacturing missiles which few countries around the world possess.

Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said on Sunday that the Islamic Republic is currently one of the world’s topmost missile powers despite being subject to severe sanctions during the past 40 years.

PressTV-'Iran among world’s top missile powers'

The Iranian defense minister says the country is currently one of the world’s topmost missile powers despite severe sanctions.

“Today, Iran is among the world’s topmost powers in building missiles, radars, armored vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),” the Iranian defense minister said in an exclusive interview with IRNA, emphasizing that Iran's defense power is meant to send the message of peace and friendship to other nations.

The senior spokesman of the Iranian Armed Forces also said on Sunday that the country would continue to test and develop its missiles in line with its deterrence policy despite adversarial positions taken on this issue by US officials.

PressTV-‘Iran will continue to test, develop deterrent missiles’

A senior Iranian commander says the country will continue to test and develop missiles in line with its deterrence policy.

“Missile tests and the overall defensive capability of the Islamic Republic are for defense [purposes] and in line with our country’s deterrence [policy]…We will continue to both test and develop missiles," Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said, adding, "This issue is outside the framework of any negotiations and is part of our national security. We will not ask any country's permission in this regard."

Over the past years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and hardware despite sanctions and economic pressures on the country.

The Islamic Republic maintains that its military power poses no threat to other countries and is merely attentive to its military doctrine of deterrence.

Despite tough and cruel sanctions imposed by the United States against the Islamic Republic, Iran held the 9th Iran Airshow on the southern island of Kish in the Persian Gulf late in November.

PressTV-Iran Airshow kicks off in Kish Island

The 9th Iran Airshow kicks off on the southern island of Kish in the Persian Gulf.

Many experts believe that holding of the 9th Iran Airshow at a time that the administration of US President Donald Trump has reinstated unilateral sanctions against Iran is a clear sign that the sanctions have failed to have any impact on the Islamic Republic's progress in different fields, nor on its relations with other countries.

Read more:

• Iran rejects 'ridiculous' US claims against its missile program
• US cannot cite UN Security Council resolution on Iran’s missiles: Commentator
• US bases in Qatar, UAE, Afghanistan within reach of Iran missiles: IRGC
• Undeterred by US sanctions, Iran puts latest air defense gear to test in massive drill
• ‘US incapable of dealing with Iran's missile power’

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