Iran30 September, 20262 min read
Ali Balali Says Iran Can Fire As Many Missiles As Necessary To Deter An Enemy
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Iran will fire as many missiles as necessary to deter the enemy. All displayed weapons are domestically developed and manufactured.
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Missiles, deterrence, and limits
Brigadier General Ali Balali said Iran could fire as many missiles as necessary to deter an enemy and demonstrate that no attack would go unanswered. Balali told interview audiences that missile technology is more complex and challenging than many other methods and weapons, and he framed missile launches as a particularly difficult task. Balali said that during the eight years of the Sacred Defense, Iran fired a total of 88 missiles, adding that the weapons were extremely expensive and Iran lacked the resources to fully cover their costs.
“Today, thanks to God, we no longer face such a problem.”
Balali said Iran had no choice but to launch the missiles one at a time and in limited numbers so it could sustain operations until the end of the war, and he added, "Today, thanks to God, we no longer face such a problem." Balali said Iran’s current defense capabilities let the armed forces launch "as much as necessary" in every operation so the enemy understands that the era of "hit and run" is over.
Sanctions, rewards, and officials
The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program announced a reward of up to $15 million for information about three senior officials in the Revolutionary Guards’ missile unit and about the unit’s financial mechanisms.
The program named Ahmed Jafarabadī, Abdulllāh Muḥarrabī, and ʿAlī Ashgar Nūrūzī, and it described ʿAlī Ashgar Nūrūzī as Assistant for Supply and Support in the Revolutionary Guards.
The Rewards for Justice release said the unit is responsible for developing weapon systems, producing and disseminating Iranian drones and missiles, and procuring equipment for the Revolutionary Guards.
The release coincided with new U.S. sanctions, and the State Department said Washington imposed sanctions on eight entities and five individuals connected with purchasing Iranian weapons and military components and disseminating them under Operation Economic Isolation.
The State Department said President Donald Trump "made it clear: Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, and its missile and weapons programs must not threaten international peace and security."
Strait of Hormuz and retaliation
Iran’s missile and defense statements tied to the Strait of Hormuz appeared alongside claims that Iran maintained a tight grip on the strait since the early days of the second imposed war. PressTV said the United States conducted waves of deadly air raids on Iran and imposed a naval blockade of the country in violation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on June 17 to end the war. PressTV said Iran responded with strikes against strategic American targets across West Asia and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all traffic.
Mehr News Agency reported that Balali said Iran’s missile production and launch rate would allow it to sustain operations at the current pace even if a confrontation continued for several years. Balali said Iranian officials have comprehensive plans regarding the use of the country’s military capabilities and weapons and act under the guidance and supervision of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.