Iran able to produce intercontinental missiles: diplomat

Iran is capable of producing intercontinental missiles thanks to its scientific development, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Wednesday.

"Today, our scientific power has provided us with the opportunity to even produce intercontinental missiles," Hamid Baeidinejad, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's director general for political affairs, was quoted as saying by Press TV.

"Our country's power is increasing, and today we have no restrictions in defense fields, as in our missile program, we have no technical limits anymore," said Baeidinejad, who is also former Iranian nuclear negotiator.

Stressing that Iran's military doctrine is based on deterrent policies, he said that unlike the military policies of other countries in the region and major powers in the world, Iran's military doctrine is not after an escalation of threats in the region or the world.

He hailed the achievements of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in defense areas, saying that the IRGC is the backbone of the country's military security.

Earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif dismissed U.S. officials' remarks against Iran's missile program, saying Iran would never negotiate over its missile program as it was a matter of national defense.

The White House is critical of Iran's missile program and deems it a threat to regional and world peace.

However, the Islamic republic said that its missile program is totally for peaceful purposes and no measure can strip it of its legitimate and legal rights to boost its defensive capabilities and to safeguard national security. Endit