Iran vows to develop deterrent missile power.

Iran's defense minister put developing deterrent missile power as the country's top priority, Press TV reported on Sunday. The minister Amir Hatami hailed the country's military achievements, and vowed to continue enhancing missile capabilities.

Iran Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami unveiled a new generation of Fateh missiles
(Credit: Tasnim News Agency)

"Our focus has been on priorities, with the top priority being the missile issue," Hatami said. "We are in a good position in this field, but we need to develop it."

He further touched on the recent unveiling of precision-guided Fateh Mobin missile, stressing that Iranian missiles are good in terms of diversity and thus most attention has been paid to their agility, anti-radar capability, high precision and sustainability in different environmental conditions.

Hatami pointed out that "we have never sought and will never seek weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons due to our religious beliefs."

Meanwhile, he announced that Iran plans to unveil a new fighter jet on Wednesday on the occasion of Iran's Defense Industry Day.

"A plane, which has passed several stages, will be presented on the Defense Industry Day and people will see the fighter jet flying from a close distance as well as the equipment used for its manufacture," he was quoted as saying.

"We will spare no efforts to preserve the defense power and will develop it ... We have no other way because they (the enemies) want to disarm us," he stressed.

Iran has dismissed the western concerns over its ballistic missile program.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said earlier that the Islamic republic's missile program is completely conventional and defensive, and Iran, like all independent countries in the world, is entitled to have all conventional defense programs.

According to the minster, the homegrown air defense system ‘Bavar-373’ will come into service by the end of the current Iranian year (March 2019).

Once the Iranian air defense system passes all tests and becomes operational, it could be mass produced and exported, he added.

Bahram Qasemi added that Iran's regional policy favors cooperation and dialogue within the region and with its neighbors. "Iran believes none of the crises in the region has a military solution," he said.