DM: Iran’s Missile Advancements Undeterred by Sanctions

“Attempts to impose new sanctions under the pretext of irrelevant excuses show the United States’ continued hostile policies and hatred towards the Iranian nation and its useless attempts to weaken Iran’s defense power, which are not helpful to regional security, stability and tranquility,” Dehqan said on Monday in reaction to the US new sanctions against Iran’s missile program.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s missile industries are fully home-made and reliant on knowledge, expertise and infrastructures of the defense industry, and imposing sanctions against people and companies don’t affect the trend of its development and strengthening,” he added.

Dehqan stressed that Tehran will show in practice its determination to expand its missile industry by “unveiling new missile achievements” soon.

The US imposed fresh sanctions on the Iranian companies and individuals over a recent ballistic missile test right after Tehran and the world powers started implementation of the July nuclear deal whose key purpose was removal of all embargos against Iran.

The new sanctions prevent 11 entities and individuals linked to the missile program from using the US banking system.

Iran reacted to the new US sanctions with vows to further make progress in its missile program.

“As explicitly stated before, the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond to such propaganda and harassing measures with pursuing its legal missile program more seriously and enhancing its national defense and security capabilities,” a statement by the foreign ministry said on Monday.

It also underlined that allegations against Iran’s defensive and deterrent missile program by the US which is the biggest seller of advanced weapons to the regional states, used against the Palestinian and Yemeni civilians, are not legally and morally legitimate.

“Iran’s missile program has not been designed for carrying nuclear weapons at all and therefore, it doesn’t violate any international rule,” the statement added.