Iran to strengthen missile defense: minister

Iran will spare no efforts to protect its security and will seek to boost its missile defense capability, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan said Wednesday during a visit to Moscow.

"No will or organization will be able to stand in the way and obstruct the development and upsurge of Iran's defense capability, especially missile defense capability," said Dehghan, who is here for the Moscow International Security Conference.

Dehghan said Tehran needs to protect itself as the world has been in a state of insecurity and instability under the threat of terrorism supported by the United States, Israel and some regional countries.

He said Iran has never threatened and will not threaten the security of other countries, stressing that Iran condemns aggression and the use of force against sovereign states.

The defense minister criticized the United States for its "double and multiple standards."

"Using proxy wars and imposing related costs on other countries may lead to another world war," he said.

Russia has recently started deliveries to Iran of the sophisticated S-300 air defense missile systems, which are among the most advanced.

Iran has insisted on its right to pursue missile programs, which has been criticized by the West on the basis that they might be used to carry nuclear warheads.

Under a United Nations Security Council resolution, Iran is prohibited from working on ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads. Endi