Defense Minister: The Government Will Enhance Iran's Missile Capabilities

Brigadier General Amir Hatami, Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Support, announced the mandate to "increase missile capabilities within the framework of approved programs" and stated, "The twelfth government will pursue and continue this approach." Speaking on a television program on the evening of September 6, he emphasized, "We will increase and strengthen our defensive capabilities to the extent that no one dares to attack our country." Amir Hatami had previously stated on August 26, before the parliament's vote of confidence in him, that increasing the power of ballistic and cruise missiles would be part of his plans if confirmed in the position of Minister of Defense. The remarks by the Iranian Defense Minister come at a time when the U.S. government has previously emphasized that Iran's missile program and the activities of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard violate the spirit of the nuclear agreement, as Iran was supposed to participate in creating peace and stability in the region and globally under this agreement. In this context, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has repeatedly stated that, in his view, Iran is not adhering to the "spirit of the nuclear agreement." Previously, on June 15, the U.S. Senate passed a bill known as the "Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act" with a decisive majority. This bill referred to Iran's ballistic missile program as a threat. Iran and the P5+1 group reached an agreement on the "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action" (JCPOA) in July 2015 in Vienna. Under this agreement, Iran suspended many of its nuclear activities, and in return, international nuclear sanctions against Iran were suspended or lifted. UN Security Council Resolution 2231, issued after the Vienna nuclear agreement to endorse it, called on Iran to refrain from developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Meanwhile, the Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Support reported an 85% progress in the "Bavar 373" missile system, stating, "This system is more advanced than the S-300 missile system." After several years of delay due to sanctions related to its nuclear activities, Iran received the S-300 missile system from Russia. Officials from the Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Headquarters had previously stated that the first missile launch from the "Bavar 373" system was conducted "successfully," and this system is set to replace the S-300. Nevertheless, Mr. Hatami announced the deployment of "all" S-300 systems in Iran, stating, "Necessary training has also been provided to cover the defense of the country's airspace." He emphasized, "We have carefully covered sensitive areas with this system." The S-300 surface-to-air missile can target aircraft at an altitude of 30 kilometers and at a distance of about 200 kilometers, with the capability to track multiple targets simultaneously, and Iran's access to this system is influential in further protecting Iran's nuclear facilities.