Iran’s missile power non-negotiable: Spox

Tehran, Jan 25, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi on Friday reiterated that Iran’s missile power is non-negotiable, saying that the country's missile capabilities are part of its legitimate defense and guarantor of national security on the basis of deterrence. He made the statements in reaction to French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian who told reporters in Paris on Friday that if dialogues on Iran’s ballistic missiles do not bear results, Tehran will be slapped further sanctions. “Islamic Republic of Iran has always favored strengthening peace and stability in the region and considers mass sales of sophisticated weapons by the US and certain European states such as France as disruptive to regional peace and stability,” he said. “Iran has designed its defense capabilities on the basis of factual evaluation of the existing threats and we will reinforce it up to the point it deems necessary,” he said. Qasemi further noted that threatening with new missile sanctions by the French foreign minister is against spirit of political dialogues and mutual cooperation, adding that any new sanctions by the European states will prompt Iran to reconsider its way of interactions. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish