Iran's Missile Program Not Negotiable

"Certainly, it is vital for us to have the best tools so that criminal like Saddam cannot launch missile attacks against our cities while we didn’t have any possibility to defend our citizens (during the Iraqi-imposed war against Iran in 1980s). Certainly, Iran's missile program is crucially important and is not negotiable," Zarif said, addressing a forum in Tehran on Saturday.

He blasted the western states for selling the best hi-tech weapons to certain regional countries, and asked those who criticize Iran's missile program for ignoring that Saudi Arabia, as a neighboring state, is armed with modern fighter jets and missiles with a range of 2,500km with the capability of targeting other continents and carrying nuclear warheads.

Elsewhere, Zarif underlined regional talks, and said, "We negotiate with anyone who feels respect for us. We don’t have any problem to negotiate with the neighboring states but they are not inclined."

In relevant remarks last Sunday, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei blasted the world powers which oppose Iran's missile power, and stressed once again that Tehran would not allow others to intrude in its missile and defense programs.

"This issue is none of your (enemies') business. You (the enemies) want the Iranian nation not to have missiles and other defensive possibilities so that you bully it," Ayatollah Khamenei said in Tehran, addressing a large number of Iranian people from East Azarbaijan province.

He underlined that production and modernization of all the tools and equipment needed by the country today and tomorrow should be prioritized, and said, "Without even a single moment of doubt, the country should move towards anything that it needs to defend itself even if the world opposes."

"Of course, we have placed a religious ban on things like nuclear bombs and WMDs but we powerfully pursue any (other) thing that we need," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

"We are aware of the enemies' open and secret threats, words and plots but we stress without any moment of doubt that the Islamic Republic which relies on people will become more powerful day by day," he added.

Ayatollah Khamenei also recited a sentence by the late founder of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, and said, "The US can do no damn thing."