Russia sees Iranian missiles as a regional deterrent
Russia does not believe that Tehran is hiding under the cover of a peaceful space program to build missiles carrying weapons of mass destruction. This is only a deterrent measure on a regional scale, said Vladimir Yermakov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control.
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| Iran's ballistic missile test launch. Photo: AP Photo / Fars News Agency |
"We consider Iran's missiles as a means of deterrence, and only on a regional scale. It is also worth recalling that ballistic missiles, often of more modern types, are also present in countries neighboring Iran," Yermakov said while commenting on Western claims about satellite launches carried out by Iran.
The diplomat said that the United States and its allies "accuse Tehran that under the guise of a peaceful space program, Iran is trying to improve its military ballistic missiles, which, according to the West, are needed for Tehran to deliver weapons of mass destruction at long range. We do not agree with these assessments," he noted.