Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photo: www.sajed.ir via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to “mass produce” missiles in reaction to Western countries’ desire to discuss curbing the Iranian missile program as part of the ongoing nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

“They expect us to limit our missile program while they constantly threaten Iran with military action… So this is a stupid, idiotic expectation… The revolutionary guards should definitely carry out their program and not be satisfied with the present level. They should mass produce. This is a main duty of all military officials,” Khamenei was quoted as telling the Iranian news agency IRNA.

Middle East expert Ilan Berman, vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council, has told JNS.org that while the nuclear program “is the fast mover in international discussions” with Iran, the “delivery capabilities are extremely important.” Missiles represent a delivery vehicle for nuclear weapons.