ERBIL, Kurdistan Region--Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has told his defense minister to expand the country’s missile program despite threats of new sanctions from Washington.
"As the U.S. is clearly still pursuing its hostile policies and illegal meddling ... the armed forces need to quickly and significantly increase their missile capability." Rouhani said in a recent letter to his defense minister, according to Reuters.
"The defense ministry," he continued, "with the support of the armed forces, is tasked with putting in place new programs by all available means to increase the country's missile capability." Rouhani argued.
Washington announced this week that it is planning fresh sanctions against a number of companies and individuals that have helped develop Iran’s ballistic-missile program. On the list is Iran’s defense ministry and companies based in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.
Tehran says that it hasn't violated the terms of a nuclear deal it signed with the P5+1 powers in Vienna in July, arguing that the deal technically bans the testing of missiles "designed" to be fitted with nuclear warheads, not missiles.
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