Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that he limited the range of Iran ballistic missiles capability to 2,000 kilometers, despite IRGC requests to increase the range to 4,000 and 5,000 kilometers.
He made his remarks during a meeting with experts in the fields of science and technology on February 28, 2019, which was posted on Khamenei.ir, the official website of the Iranian Supreme Leader, on June 14, 2021 a day ago.
Khamenei said that IRGC officials are not happy with this decision and complain about it, but he has reasons for this decision.
He added that long-range accurate missiles are a “very significant thing,” and added that these missiles hit 5-10 meters from the target.
Khamenei’s video, despite being 2 years old, is released on his official website only days after NATO leaders agree to a 41-page communique at their summit outlining the alliance’s approach to old threats.
Included in the document is a call on Iran to stop all of its ballistic missile activities.
There has also been rumors of Iran ballistic missiles program to be included in the current talks of Iran nuclear deal in Vienna.
The video is clearly an indirect answer to NATO and Group of 7 members call for Iran to put an end to its ballistic missile program.
Of course, many experts believe Iran will never negotiate away its missile capabilities. After all, Iranians view missile force as a “crown jewel,” and many officials, going all the way up to the Supreme Leader, have insisted that they are non-negotiable.
The repeated yet vague mentions of curbing Iran’s missile program have largely concealed the fact that it comprises not one single problem, but two: Iran’s potential development of long-range missiles that could reach Western Europe and the United States on one hand, and its proliferation of rockets and missiles to proxy groups in the Middle East on the other.
Source: Al Arabiya
Also read: Russia is preparing to supply Iran with an advanced satellite system that will boost Tehran’s ability to surveil military targets, officials say