JAKARTA - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stressed that Iran's missile program was developed solely to defend its territory. Tehran has no intention of negotiating with any country regarding the program.
Previously, the news portal Axios reported that Israel last weekend warned the United States (US) that missile launch exercises by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard could be preparations for an attack on Israel.
"The missile program was developed for the defense of Iran's territory, not for negotiation. Iran's defense potential is intended to prevent aggressors from thinking of attacking Iran, so the issue of defense is generally not a topic of discussion," Baghaei said, as quoted by the Iranian government's press service reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, Monday, December 22.
He stated that although Iran's missile program was perceived as a threat to the international community, Israel continued to receive more weapons and military equipment while carrying out illegal occupation of Palestine and "genocide" against its residents.
The issue of the threat, according to Baghaei, is only a continuation of the hybrid war waged by Israel against Iran with US support.
On June 13, Israel launched an operation against Iran for allegedly running a covert military nuclear program. Israeli airstrikes and sabotage operations targeted nuclear facilities, military commanders, leading nuclear scientists, and air bases.
Iran denied the charge and retaliated with an attack. Both sides attacked each other for 12 days and the US was involved through a one-time attack on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22.
A day later, Iran launched a missile attack on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, while stressing that it had no intention of further escalation.
US President Donald Trump later expressed hope that the attack on the US military base in Qatar had been an "exoneration" for Iran and paved the way for peace and stability in the Middle East.
He added that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire that officially ended the 12-day war.
After the attack, Iran stated that it would restore the affected facilities and continue to develop its nuclear industry, including by building new nuclear power plants.
Iran has also reiterated its readiness to take confidence-building measures related to its nuclear industry amid Western concerns about the country's nuclear program.
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