Parliament's Approval Necessitates Gov't to Boost Iran's Missile Power
Sun May 01, 2016 2:49
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950212000796

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Iranian parliament approved a bill on Sunday requiring the
government to further develop and increase the country's missile power.

The bill was approved within the framework of Iran's Five-Year Development
Plan during an open session of the parliament today.

It calls for enhancement of the country's deterrence power by developing and
boosting its missile production capability, strengthening the air defense
power at different short-, mid- and long-range levels, updating safe
communication networks to establish a command and control system, making all
weapons systems smart and mobile appropriate with threats, researching,
designing and producing the needed equipment to confront the terrorist
groups, developing the country's naval power by equipping it with advanced
weapons and reinvigorating the country's electronic warfare capability.

In relevant remarks in March, Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution
Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami said development of
Iran’s missile defense capabilities will never come to a halt or alter under
any conditions.

Speaking to the state TV at the time, Salami said, “We have always made it
clear that we will never modify this capability with political resolutions.”

“We have now reached a point that we can fire different classes of missiles
simultaneously in order to hit any enemy,” he added.

“In case the country comes under attack, we will use our missiles. There
will be a volcanic eruption of missile firings at the enemy,” he warned.

Meantime, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force
Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh also said in the same month that Iran's
missiles belonged to the oppressed nations of the Muslim world, and those
who try to threaten them would come under threat by these missiles.

Speaking to reporters in the Central province of Qom where the IRGC missile
drills were held, Hajizadeh said the missiles fired during the wargames were
"Iran-made and belong to the Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi
nations, as well as all the oppressed people of the world."

"We are not after expansionism and certainly these missiles are not being
used against terrorist groups. However, that could be a possibility too," he
added.

He further noted, "Iran has built missiles that can hit targets at 2,000km.
They are designed to hit Israel at such a distance. Israel has been
surrounded by Islamic countries and its life is short. So it will collapse
in any given war - long before a missile is even fired."

Hajizadeh said Iran has developed different tunnels and silos for its
missiles and would give a harsh response to any stupid aggression by the
enemies.

The IRGC ended its drills on Thursday. Called 'Eqtedar-e Velayat', the
command, tactical and special exercises were conducted in the presence of
IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari as well as General
Hajizadeh.

The drills were meant to test advanced missile defense systems as well as
showcase the deterrence power and the clout of the IRGC forces in defending
the country's territorial integrity against foreign threats.

The drills were held in different geographical locations, using ballistic
missiles fired from silos.