Iran says missile program for defensive ends

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said here Monday that his country will decide on the missile program as it is aimed for defensive purposes.

"Iran's missile program has nothing to do with the United States or other countries and no country is allowed to decide for the Islamic republic's missile program," Dehqan was quoted as saying by Press TV.

In the United States, the media hype over Iran's missile program is merely part of the propaganda campaign ahead of the country's presidential election in November, he said.

The Iranian minister also blamed Israel and Saudi officials for disseminating Iranophebia over its missile program.

Iran has made it clear to the world that it acts in accordance with its interests and will pay the necessary price for them, he added.

Iran will equip itself with deterrent tools in the wake of potential threats and accepts no limitations in this regard, he stressed.

The White House is critical of Iran's missile program and considers it as a threat to regional and international peace.

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