RNA – In an interview with Rasa News Agency, Hujjat al-Islam Javad Mojtahed-Shabestari, a representative of the people of West Azerbaijan province in the Assembly of Experts, said that the defense capabilities of both the missile industry and other defense tools are part of Iran’s national security and interests and added, “There is no sense in negotiating with the enemies over national security and interests.”
The Iranian cleric said that negotiations are meant to be a transaction, and must occur in regard to some of the issues that are relevant to our fate and we must not compromise in order to receive other privileges.
Emphasizing that there is no rationality for Iran to receive minor privileges and compromise over its national defense and security capabilities and said, “The world’s independent nations are not prepared to negotiate in the area of defense.”
Referring to the hostile behaviour of the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hujjat al-Islam Mojtahed-Shabestari stated, “Forcing Iran to negotiate over its missile power capabilities is unjust and oppressive.”
The teacher in the Islamic Seminary said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is not the only country with missile capabilities. Therefore, if a country is to be held accountable for its capabilities in the missile industry, all countries with missile capabilities must be examined and investigated.”
His Eminence criticized the injustice of the international community against the great nation of Iran and said, “There are countries in the world who by selling their military equipment to the Persian Gulf states, have bombed and destroyed the houses of the people of Yemen.”
Hujjat al-Islam Mojtahed-Shabestari added, “Even the smallest action is not carried out to prevent the bombing of the women and children of Yemen but when the Islamic Republic of Iran launches a missile to counter terrorism and protect its territorial integrity, immediately far-reaching and cruel sanctions against the country are ratified.”
He stressed that limiting the country’s defense capability is in no way reasonable, saying, “Problems will not be resolved through negotiations because we have been negotiating with the enemies for years with regard to the nuclear energy issue but they have not withdrawn from their hostility even a little.”
Referring to the Quranic verse: “Prepare against them whatever you can of [military] power…” Hujjat al-Islam Mojtahed-Shabestari stated, “As God Almighty states in verse sixty of Surah al-Anfal, as far as we can, we must increase our military power, thereby causing fear in the hearts of our enemies.”
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