Commander of the Aerospace Force of the IRGC: Iran's Missile Production Has Tripled Compared to the Past

Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that Iran's missile production has "tripled compared to the past." According to Fars News Agency, during a conference held at the IRGC's headquarters on Wednesday, March 7, he mentioned that today all institutions of the Islamic Republic have a unified view on missile issues, "especially ground-to-ground missiles," saying, "In the past, we had to explain our actions to various institutions; but now it is not the case, and our production has tripled compared to the past." This senior military commander did not specify which institutions previously requested explanations about missile activities and did not provide further details. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, has consistently supported Iran's missile program and once reacted to Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, who said, "The West is not afraid of our four tanks and missiles," by calling for officials to go on a "military tour." According to Tasnim News Agency, Amir Ali Hajizadeh also criticized Western countries, stating, "They do whatever they want and expand their arsenals day by day, but they call our missiles weapons of mass destruction." These remarks come amid uncertainties surrounding the continuation of the JCPOA, as in recent weeks, the US and Europe have repeatedly urged the Islamic Republic to halt its missile program development. Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Foreign Minister, who visited Tehran two days ago for negotiations, stated hours before his trip that Tehran must respond to concerns about its missile program, or it would "face the risk of new sanctions." These comments from the French Foreign Minister provoked strong reactions from Islamic Republic officials. France has always emphasized its commitment to the nuclear agreement and is working to maintain this international accord. The JCPOA is intertwined with the missile program. Although Israel and several Western countries have previously expressed concerns about Iran's missile activities, the discussion intensified following Donald Trump's rise to power in the US. He has strongly criticized the JCPOA and called for the addition of four issues for its amendment, one of which is Iran's missile activities. Mr. Trump has stated, "The long-range missile program and the nuclear weapons program are inseparable, and Iran's missile development and testing should be subjected to strict sanctions." Mike Pence, the US Vice President, also mentioned during his speech at AIPAC on March 6 that if the JCPOA is not amended, the US will withdraw from it. However, many political and military officials of the Islamic Republic have stated that Iran's missile program is non-negotiable. Most recently, Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the IRGC, told reporters on Wednesday, "Our country has crossed the threshold of controlling technologies, and therefore our defensive capability is non-negotiable and cannot be halted." The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated Iran's military spending last year at $16 billion, showing a slight increase compared to the previous year.