Iran: No plans to raise missile range

Most of the enemies’ strategic targets are within Iran’s capability range, commander says

Iran has no plans to extend the range of its missiles since their 2,000km reach is enough to protect the country, the Revolutionary Guards commander said yesterday, amid mounting US pressure over Tehran’s missile programme.

Iran’s government again ruled out negotiations with US President Donald Trump over Tehran’s military capabilities and regional influence, saying that such talks would be against the values of the Islamic Republic.

Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 accord between Iran and world powers that curbed Tehran’s nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief.

He said the deal was deeply flawed as it had not curbed Iran’s ballistic missile programme or reined in its support for proxies in conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and said Washington would reimpose tough sanctions on Tehran.

“We have the scientific ability to increase our missile range but it is not our current policy since most of the enemies’ strategic targets are already within this 2,000km range. This range is enough to protect the Islamic Republic ...,” Major-General Mohammad Ali Jafari was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

Jafari said yesterday previous negotiations with the US about Iran’s nuclear programme were “an exception”, and called Iranian politicians and activists who have favoured fresh talks with Trump as “traitors and anti-revolutionaries”.

On Saturday, over 100 activists associated with the moderate and reformist camps in Iranian politics welcomed Trump’s deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and urged Tehran to start direct negotiations with Washington.