Iran “likely” to increase the range of its missiles; answer to Israel “certain”: senior diplomat

The director of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations predicts that the Islamic Republic will likely increase the range of its missiles and warns that if it faces extinction, it may change its entire military doctrine.

“If the Islamic Republic of Iran encounters an existential threat, we will undoubtedly alter the approach of our military doctrine,” Kamal Kharrazi stated in an interview with Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen television.

He emphasized that although Iran is capable of producing nuclear weapons, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s fatwa (religious decree) against weapons of mass destruction acts as a deterrent.

“We currently possess the essential capability to manufacture [nuclear] weapons, and the sole barrier is the leader’s fatwa that forbids the production of nuclear weapons.”

Kharrazi stated, “We have thus far accounted for the sensitivity of the Westerners, especially the Europeans, concerning the range of Iran’s missiles.” However, when they fail to take our sensitivities into account, particularly concerning the territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we see no justification for continuing to regard them.

“Consequently, it is possible that the range of Iran’s missiles may expand.”

Kharrazi commented on Israel’s recent deadly strikes on military sites in Iran, stating that the country “will definitely respond at the right time and in the right way.”

He emphasized that Iran does not seek to escalate the conflict throughout the region, yet asserted, “We are prepared for a war.”

Kharrazi pointed out that Israel has made “miscalculations” since it initiated aggressions against Gaza and Lebanon, stating, “They believed they could eliminate Hamas and Hezbollah by attacking Gaza and Lebanon.” They believed that the martyrdom of the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah would lead to the collapse of these popular movements. These were their errors in judgment. In Israel, numerous individuals acknowledge these errors in judgment.

Since early October 2023, Israel has been conducting a severe two-front military campaign that has resulted in the deaths of over 43,259 individuals in the Gaza Strip and at least 2,867 others in Lebanon to date.

During this time, the usurping regime has also carried out the assassination of multiple resistance leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, the political bureau chief of Hamas, and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary General of Hezbollah.

In solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, resistance groups have initiated retaliatory strikes on Israeli targets and pledged to continue their struggle until the assault on Gaza ceases.

In reaction to Israel’s violent actions in targeting the resistance front’s key leaders, Iran executed Operation True Promise 2 earlier last month.

Iran has stated its determination to respond to the recent Israeli act of aggression against the nation and will not relinquish its rights.