Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday reiterated Iran's firm opposition to any kind of talks with world powers on its missile program.
"Certainly, it is vital for us to have the best tools so that criminals like Saddam cannot launch missile attacks against our cities while we didn’t have any possibility to defend our citizens (during the Iraqi-imposed war against Iran in 1980s). Certainly, Iran's missile program is crucially important and is not negotiable," Zarif said, according to the Fars news agency.
He also blasted those who criticize Iran's missile program for ignoring the fact that Saudi Arabia is armed with modern fighter jets and missiles with a range of 2,500 km with the capability of targeting other continents and carrying nuclear warheads.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blasted world powers which oppose Iran's missile power, and stressed once again that Tehran would not allow others to intrude in its missile and defense programs.
"This issue is none of your (enemies') business. You (the enemies) want the Iranian nation not to have missiles and other defensive possibilities so that you bully it," Ayatollah Khamenei said in Tehran, according to Fars.
"Of course, we have placed a religious ban on things like nuclear bombs and WMDs but we powerfully pursue any (other) thing that we need," he added.
