Xinhuanet: Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said Tuesday that Iran was to upgrade its deterrent defense capability to ward off foreign threats, the official IRNA news agency reported. Shamkhani made the comments in a message on the sixth anniversary of the founding of Iran’s Organization of Aerospace Industries due on Wednesday.
Xinhuanet
TEHRAN – Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said Tuesday that Iran was to upgrade its deterrent defense capability to ward off foreign threats, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Shamkhani made the comments in a message on the sixth anniversary of the founding of Iran’s Organization of Aerospace Industries due on Wednesday.
“It (the deterrent capability) was playing the key role in shaping the country’s strategic and defense capability,” Shamkhani said.
“It will also help Tehran use its defense power to maintain regional stability,” he added.
Shamkhani stressed that national security can not be maintained without having necessary strategic and military facilities.
“Iran is located in a daunting geo-political environment. With the increasing international threats to its national security, Iran’s acquisition of a modern defense system is an imperative,” Shamkhani said.
He said in late August that the Islamic Republic had achieved an “effective deterrent power” to confront its enemies in the region, alluding to the United States and Israel.
Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, currently chairman ofthe powerful Expediency Council, said in early October that Iran had ballistic missiles with a range of 2,000 km.
The Organization of Aerospace Industries of Iran is the country’s main institution for designing and producing short-range and medium-range missiles as well as developing defense systems.
