News / Politics

Iran develops missile program as part of defensive doctrine: Leader’s adviser

Wednesday, 14 February 2018 6:54 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 14 February 2018 8:45 PM ]

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (Photo by IRNA)

A senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iran’s development of missiles does not concern any countries as it is totally a matter of domestic policy.

Iran, like any other country, acts according to its conditions, and the manufacturing and development of missiles do not concern foreigners, Ali Akbar Velayati told reporters on Wednesday, after a meeting with European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman David McAllister in Tehran.

Emphasizing that each country chooses its own defense system in proportion to its needs, Velayati said missiles are "defensive means" in Iran’s doctrine.

“To defend our country, we take measures to develop missiles in line with our national interests, and this is no business of foreigners and we do not allow others to interfere [in this issue],” he said.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that the country’s missile program is not open to any negotiations amid efforts by the US specifically to link the Islamic Republic’s missile program to the Iran nuclear deal that was reached between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries in July 2015.

Washington has insisted that Iran’s missile program be put under international surveillance. Tehran says it will not negotiate over the issue under any circumstances.

During his meeting with the EU official, Velayati also talked about Iran’s policies in the Middle East and North Africa, saying the Islamic Republic sought cooperation with all regional countries to help establish stability, security and peace, and stressed that Tehran was opposed to any foreign meddling in the region.

He also highlighted Iran’s contribution to the anti-terrorism battle, saying if it were not for Iran’s support, Daesh would spread its militancy to many parts of the world.

Velayati also called on European countries to adopt “more independent policies” vis-à-vis the Middle East region.

For his part, McAllister praised Iran's active and cooperative foreign relations.

He also called for further cooperation between the Iranian and the European Parliament, saying the Iranian parliament could play an instrumental role in improving Iran-Europe relations.

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