Iran’s ballistic missile program does not yet pose a threat to Europe or the United States, France's Director for Strategy Affairs and Defense Policy Michel Miraillet said on Thursday at a missile defense conference in Moscow.
The Euro-missile defense shield being implemented by NATO is aimed at so-called "emerging threat" nations, in particular Iran, which has developed theater range missiles and testing successor designs.
“Firstly Iran’s ballistic missile program threatens neither Europe or the United States,” he said. “Secondly, the Iranian nuclear program is developed for civil applications only. Therefore Russia considers Iran is a risk, not a threat to Europe,” he added.
It would however be a risk to ignore the fact that Iran is rapidly developing ballistic missile technology, he said.
“Iran is increasing its inventory which includes nowadays more than several hundred missiles. Iran is developing indigenously a new type of two-stage solid-fuel missile called Ashura/Seijil. Its theoretical range is 2,200 km. Iran has proved its capability to shoot multiple salvos of missiles having different ranges,” he said.
Iran is developing its program in defiance of UN resolutions, he added.
The U.S. and many Western European nations suspect Iran of developing nuclear weapon capability under guise of its civil nuclear program. Iran has consistently denied the accusations.
In mid-February the U.S. ramped up its sanctions against Tehran, which has four UN Security Resolutions in force against it over its nuclear activities.
