ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander announced on Monday that Tehran will continue to develop its missile programs despite the US slapping more sanctions on it for doing so. "Even if they build a wall around Iran, our missile program will not stop," said the IRGC's Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh according to Iran's Tasnim news agency. "They [the western powers] are trying to frighten our officials with sanctions and invasion. This fear is our biggest threat." This follows a missile test of several missiles by the IRGC earlier this month which led to condemnations by western powers who believe them to be contravention to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 which says Iran should not engage in "any activity" in relation to missiles which can carry and deliver nuclear weapons. Iran invariably argues that none of the missiles it are testing are conventional, are for defensive purposes and are therefore not in violation of this ambiguous resolution. "We will pursue any measure to boost our defense might and this is a strategic policy," Iran's President Hassan Rouhani told Iran's state-owned Press TV on Sunday. "But at the same time we should remain vigilant so that Iran's enemies do not find any excuse to take advantage of the situation." Iran reached a nuclear agreement with the P5+1 powers last July which resulted in economic sanctions leveled against it lifted in January 2016. However the US government continues to sanction entities relating to Iran's missile program and forbids Americans from doing business with Iran.
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