Commander of the Air Force of the IRGC: We Do Not Need Missiles with a Range of Over Two Thousand Kilometers

The commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the Islamic Republic's goal in producing ballistic missiles is to target Israel, and therefore, there is no need for missiles with a range of over 2,000 kilometers. According to Fars News Agency, Amir Ali Hajizadeh said on Tuesday, October 6, that the new Zulfiqar missile, with a range of 700 kilometers, is entering the Aerospace Organization and a large number of them will be available to our units by the end of the year. He added, 'Our target is Israel, and we do not need missiles with a range of over 2,000 kilometers.' On March 9, 2016, Hajizadeh had also stated that Iran's 2,000-kilometer missiles are designed to target Israel. On the same day, the Islamic Republic launched two ballistic missiles during a drill, one with a range of 2,000 kilometers and the other with a range of 1,700 kilometers. Reports indicated that the phrase 'Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth' was inscribed on the body of these missiles in Hebrew. In response to these missile tests, Israeli Security Minister Moshe Ya'alon stated that Iran's actions indicate the continuation of the Islamic Republic's hostile policy against Israel. Meanwhile, in September, the issue of a leaked private email from former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell regarding Israel's nuclear capabilities and targeting Iran with nuclear weapons had made headlines. In this email, Powell wrote to a friend that 'the Tehranis know that Israel has two hundred [nuclear warheads] all aimed at Tehran, and we have thousands [of these warheads].' Powell's spokesperson stated that his reference in the email was to 'public estimates' of the number of Israeli warheads. On Sunday, October 4, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan inaugurated the production line for the Zulfiqar ballistic missile with a range of 700 kilometers. Dehghan highlighted the missile's features, including a mobile and self-propelled launch platform, radar evasion, precision strike capability, lightweight, and tactical nature. UN Security Council Resolution 2231, while endorsing the JCPOA, requested Iran to refrain from any ballistic missile activities capable of carrying nuclear warheads for eight years after the first day of the JCPOA's implementation, including the use of related technology. However, this resolution did not prohibit Iran's missile tests and did not impose punitive measures. Previously, Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, had requested the Security Council to ask Iran to refrain from testing ballistic missiles, as such tests could increase tensions in the region. Iran, however, claims that its missile tests do not violate Security Council Resolution 2231 or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Some officials of the Islamic Republic, including Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council, have stated that the purpose of Iran's missile program is 'deterrence' and that 'the greater the range of our missiles, the less likely war becomes.'