Different Iranian missiles on display. PHOTO: TEHRAN TIMES
Iran insisted on Monday that its missile program was defensive in nature and designed to deter attack, adding that the existence of its arsenal was not up for debate.
Israel had presented Iran’s ballistic missiles, along with its nuclear program, as the two main threats it sought to neutralize during the 12-day war the enemies fought in June.
“Iran’s missile program was developed to defend Iran’s territory, not for negotiation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said at a weekly news conference.
“Therefore, Iran’s defense capabilities, designed to deter attackers from even considering attacking Iran, are not up for debate.”
Iran’s ballistic capabilities put Israel within striking distance, and after Israel’s unprecedented attacks that sparked the war in June, Tehran responded with waves of missiles and drones fired at Israeli cities.
According to US broadcaster NBC, Israel is increasingly concerned that Iran is seeking to rebuild and expand its missile production after the war and may seek to strike again to curtail those efforts.
During a planned visit to the U.S. later this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is expected to present (President Donald) Trump with options for the U.S. to participate in or assist in any new military operations,” NBC reported, citing an unnamed source with direct knowledge of the plans and former U.S. officials briefed on them.
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During the recent war, Israel struck military installations, nuclear facilities and residential areas, killing more than 1,000 people.
Israel reported more than 50 Iranian missile strikes inside its territory that killed 28 people.
The US briefly joined its ally in striking Iran’s nuclear facilities before declaring a ceasefire.
Iran once sourced much of its weapons from the United States, but after the severance of diplomatic relations following the 1979 Islamic revolution, it had to develop its own domestic arms industry.
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