TEHRAN - Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan said on Friday that the Islamic Republic’s armed forces will counter any threats against the country in the shortest possible time.

“The Armed Forces has the capability of countering any threat against the [Islamic] establishment, because it has defensive readiness and preemptive power to the extent that it can respond to the enemies’ actions,” he said in his speech before the Friday prayers in Tehran.

He, however, assured other countries, including regional nations, that Iran’s military doctrine is solely deterrent.

Dehqan said Iran’s achievements in the defense sector stand at a superior level in terms of modern technology.

Elsewhere, he said that the major powers have acknowledged the fact that Iran is a “powerful” country and has an “effective” status in the region.

The Iranian defense minister also described the U.S. interference as the main factor of instability and insecurity in the region.

Iran’s “strategy” is to cooperate with the regional countries to put an end to the “inhumane” interferences that run contrary to democracy and the people’s rights, Dehghan added.

-----Defense Ministry vows to keep boosting defensive missile might

The missile accomplishments of Iran translate into symbols of the country’s might, and such triumphs would never be suspended or halted, Iran’s Defense Ministry says.

In a statement issued on the occasion of Iran’s Defense Industry Day, the Defense Ministry said Tehran’s accomplishments in the missile industry are among the main causes of discomfort to “hegemonic and arrogant system”, particularly the U.S. and the Zionist regime of Israel.

The statement also underlined that Iran would continue strengthening its indigenous achievements and defense capabilities and will allow their suspension or interruption.

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said last week that there were not any obstacles to the country’s missile program.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s missile activities, as planned inside the country, will not face any obstacles,” the senior officer affirmed, according to Tasnim.

The general also reiterated that Iran’s missile tests are going to be carried out in a timely manner according to the plans endorsed by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

Back in May, Ayatollah Khamenei reaffirmed that the Iranian nation will not let any possible act of aggression against the country go unanswered.

The Leader said he has already made it clear, even in the tenure of former U.S. president, that “the era of hit and run has ended”, and that the Iranian nation will chase aggressors.

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and reached self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

Iran has repeatedly assured other countries that its military might poses no threat to other states, insisting that the country’s defense doctrine is entirely based on deterrence.

MD/NA/OS