Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi reiterated the country’s policy to boost its deterrence power and said in line with efforts to protect national security, the Islamic Republic will never negotiate over its missile program.

Speaking to reporters at his weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday, Qassemi pointed to recent comments made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian over Iran’s ballistic missiles and said Tehran has made an immediate and proper response to the remarks.

“Our policy on missiles is clear and the issue as part of our country’s defense sector cannot be negotiated,” he said.

The missile program is in line with efforts to protect the country’s security, Qassemi said, adding that Iran does not want to repeat the experience of (facing difficulties in acquiring weapons needed for defense during) the Iraqi imposed war in the 1980s.

Qassemi also stressed that Iran and Russia will maintain their alliance in Syria as two basic partners.

Source: Tasnim News Agency