Iran Warns Europe: We Will Increase Missile Range if ThreatenedReuters
France has called for an 'uncompromising' dialogue with Iran about its ballistic missile program and a possible negotiation over the issue separate from the 2015 nuclear deal
A still image taken from a pro-Houthi video shows what it says was the launch by Houthi forces in Yemen of a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh's King Khaled Airport, November 6, 2017. REUTERS TV/REUTERS
The deputy head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned Europe that if it threatens Tehran, the Guards will increase the range of missiles to above 2,000 kilometers (about 1,242 miles), the Fars news agency reported on Saturday.
France has called for an "uncompromising" dialogue with Iran about its ballistic missile program and a possible negotiation over the issue separate from Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
Iran has repeatedly said its missile program is defensive and not negotiable.
"If we have kept the range of our missiles to 2,000 kilometers, it's not due to lack of technology. ... We are following a strategic doctrine," Brigadier General Hossein Salami said, according to Fars.
"So far we have felt that Europe is not a threat, so we did not increase the range of our missiles. But if Europe wants to turn into a threat, we will increase the range of our missiles," he added.
The United States accused Iran this month of supplying Yemen's Houthi rebels with a missile that was fired into Saudi Arabia in July and called for the United Nations to hold Tehran accountable for violating two UN Security Council resolutions.
Iran has denied supplying Houthis with missiles and weapons.
The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said last month that Iran's 2,000-kilometer missile range could cover "most of American interest and forces" within the region, and Iran does not need to extend it.
Jafari said the ballistic missile range was based on the limits set by the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is the head of armed forces.
Iran has one of the Middle East's largest missile programs and some of its precision-guided missiles have the range to strike Israel.
The United States says Iran's missile programme is a breach of international law because the missiles could carry nuclear warheads in the future.
Iran denies it is seeking nuclear weapons and says its nuclear program is for civilian uses only.
The United States has imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, saying its missile tests violate a UN resolution that calls on Tehran not to
No comments:
Post a Comment