Top Commander Raps US Comments on Iran’s Defensive Capability


TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi shrugged off recent White House’s remarks on Iran’s missile capabilities, and derided such comments as “foolish and politically-motivated.”

“The US administrators’ remarks emanate from the political lobbies there. Thus, they (US officials) raise whatever fabricated by them (the lobbies) and even do not think about it,” Firouzabadi told the Tasnim News Agency on Saturday.

“I believe this behavior could be only described as foolishness, obstructionism and political action,” the Iranian commander said of US comments on Iran.

This comes after White House National Security Council (NSC) Spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said on February 11 that the US aims to stop Iran’s missile tests under a final nuclear agreement, which Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, Britain, the US, China, France and Germany) try to achieve in a series of comprehensive talks.

“We have seen reports that Iran has tested two missiles. Iran’s missile program continues to pose a dangerous threat to region, and is an issue we monitor closely,” she told the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday.

Earlier, Iran’s Defense Ministry announced on February 10 that it has successfully test-fired a new generation of long-range ballistic missiles and a new type of laser-guided missile.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Major General Firouzabadi reiterated that Iran’s defense capabilities "would never pose a threat to any country," and emphasized that the country’s whole defensive might is meant to safeguard the Islamic Revolution.