Iran to bolster ballistic missile capabilities

Iranian missiles (Reuters)

Defying calls by the US and United Nations to halt the development of ballistic missile systems, Iran's outgoing parliament approved a motion Sunday to increase the capabilities of the country's ballistic missiles, a military program that has been ruled dangerous by the United Nations.

Tehran considers the missile program an essential deterrent, citing the unprovoked attacks on its cities by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the nations' 1980-1988 war.

However the United States and other Western countries has said the Islamic republic's missiles threaten the Middle East, particularly Israel. Tehran's clerical rulers do not recognize the Jewish state.
The motion was passed by the lame duck conservative-dominated parliament one day after election results showed that reformists had beaten them in polls.

Lawmakers said measures must be taken "to develop and increase ballistic missile capability" and "short, medium and long range anti-aircraft capabilities." READ MORE