Iran Ballistic Missiles – Artifex.News

Iran says missile programme defensive, non-negotiable

admin — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:26:00 +0000

Iran’s ballistic capabilities put Israel within striking distance, and after Israel’s unprecedented attacks that sparked the war in June, Tehran responded with waves of missiles and drones launched at Israeli cities. Representational image.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Iran insisted on Monday (December 22, 2025) that its missile programme was defensive in nature and designed to dissuade attack, while adding the existence of its arsenal was not up for debate.

Israel had presented Iran’s ballistic missiles, along with its nuclear programme, as the two main threats it sought to neutralise during the 12-day war the foes fought in June.

“Iran’s missile programme was developed to defend Iran’s territory, not for negotiation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a weekly press conference.

“Therefore, Iran’s defense capabilities, designed to deter aggressors from any thought of attacking Iran, are not a matter that could be talked about.”

According to U.S. broadcaster NBC, Israel is growing increasingly concerned that Iran is seeking to rebuild and expand its missile production following the war, and may seek to attack it again to curtail those efforts.

During a planned visit to the U.S. later this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is expected to present (President Donald) Trump with options for the U.S. to join or assist in any new military operations”, NBC reported, citing an unnamed source with direct knowledge of the plans and former U.S. officials briefed on them.

Over the course of the recent war, Israel struck military sites, nuclear facilities and residential areas, killing more than 1,000 people.

Israel reported more than 50 Iranian missile strikes inside its territory that killed 28 people.

The U.S. briefly joined its ally in striking Iran’s nuclear facilities before declaring a ceasefire.

Iran once procured much of its weaponry from the United States, but following the break in diplomatic relations after its 1979 Islamic revolution, it had to develop its own domestic arms industry.

Published – December 22, 2025 09:56 pm IST

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Europe To Impose Sanctions Over Iranian Ballistic Missile Transfer To Russia

admin — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 18:39:40 +0000

Brussels, Belgium:

The European Union is expected to impose sanctions on Monday on people and organisations linked to Iranian transfers of ballistic missiles to Russia, two European diplomats and a high-ranking EU official said on Friday.

EU foreign ministers will approve sanctions on 14 individuals and organisations over the transfer, including airlines and other companies, according to one of the diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity.

EU officials did not identify the firms or individuals. Diplomats had previously said the EU was looking at measures that would curb the operations of national airline Iran Air.

Last month, the United States, citing intelligence it said had been shared with allies, said Russia had received ballistic missiles from Iran for its war in Ukraine.

Washington immediately imposed sanctions on ships and companies it said were involved in weapons transfers.

The EU then said it had received “credible information” on the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia and foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed “a substantial set of decisive and targeted measures” against Iran in response.

Monday’s package will be the first results of that proposal. As the 27-country EU requires unanimity to agree on sanctions, such decisions usually take some time.

Following the U.S. allegations, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said his government had not transferred any weapons to Russia since it took office in August.

The high-ranking EU official said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had told Borrell that Iran had supplied “short- range rockets” to Russia that could fly up to 250 kilometers.

The Iranian minister insisted the rockets were not ballistic and did not specify when they had been transferred, according to the EU official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

EU officials also said discussions were continuing among EU countries over whether to list Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards military force as a terrorist organisation.

A decision by a German court has provided a legal basis for such a listing but EU members were still debating whether it was politically wise to make the designation, officials said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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