President Rouhani Highlights Importance of Cruise Missile for Iran’s Defense Industry
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani highlighted the significance of cruise missile for Iran’s defense industry, urging the Defense Ministry to boost the country’s cruise missile capacity.
“Cruise missiles are of particular importance to us. The fact that we have increased the range from 300 to 1000 in less than two years shows the country is on the path of production and self-sufficiency in this field," Rouhani said via video links on Thursday marking the National Defense Industry Day.
Once ballistic missiles were important, and now cruise missiles are of great significance to us, he explained, adding that what the country needs to do at this juncture is to upgrade and update its defense industry through research and knowledge, and develop weapons with high destruction capabilities.
Meanwhile, the Iranian chief executive reaffirmed that the country’s defense doctrine is based on the strategy of deterrence and is not offensive in nature.
“We have made great progress in the field of strategic and deterrent weaponry,” he further said, hailing the efforts made by the country’s Armed Forces.
Rouhani also called on experts at the drone unit of the Iranian Army's Air Defense Force to invest more in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles, which are cheap and helpful.
Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in the arms sphere.
Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.
Back in February 2018, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran’s defense capabilities, hitting back at the enemies for disputing the country’s missile program.
“Without a moment of hesitation, the country must move to acquire whatever is necessary for defense, even if the whole world is opposed to it,” Ayatollah Khamenei said at the time.