Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh announced that the country has built a third underground missile production factory recently, Fars News Agency (FNA) reported.
“We will increase our missile power. Our enemies, the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel) are naturally upset and get angry at our missile production, tests and underground missile facilities because they want Iran to be in a weak position,” Hajizadeh said at a public meeting in the Southwestern city of Dezfoul.
The General further pointed out that the IRGC plans to build its first ground-to-ground ballistic missile that will be named “Dezfoul” in the near future.
He also noted the recent several-billion-dollar arms deal between Saudi Arabia and the US, and said: “We are not sad about this, as we rest assured that the very same equipment will be used against Israel in the future”.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi blasted the recent remarks by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and said that Tehran will keep up strengthening its defense capabilities and missile technology.
“We will continue our missile work with utmost determination, and do not pay heed to empty interventionist statements about this issue,” Qassemi said.
Qassemi’s statements came in reaction to Tillerson’s recent allegations who called on Iran’s President-elect Hassan Rouhani to end the country’s defensive missile tests.
“Such remarks are void, groundless, fallacious, and deceitful,” said the Iranian official.
Qassemi added that Iran’s missile work falls within the country’s national policy and defensive programs, and is a deterrent endeavor, which contributes to the regional stability and security and the fight against terror.
“We will not allow others to pass comments about our missile program,” he said.
In relevant remarks on Thursday, Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan underlined that Iran will continue to develop its missile capabilities while lauding the country’s self-sufficiency in producing ballistic and cruise missiles, including those with a range of 300 kilometers.
