TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri on Saturday described any negotiation with foreign countries about the Islamic Republic’s defense power as "a red line”.
Jazayeri underlined that Iran’s political and defense doctrine is based on the internal strength of the Islamic establishment and external issues do not affect it.
He further said the country’s defense power is not negotiable, adding, "Undoubtedly, the subject is a red line of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Armed Forces.”
"The political bluffs and pressures that are exerted are aimed at preventing the country from developing its defense capability,” the commander said, adding that Iran will continue its path without paying any heed to the pressures.   
Iran has repeatedly announced that its military might and test of missiles is an issue relating to defense of its territorial integrity and has nothing to do with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal reached between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the U.S., Britain, France and Germany) back in July 2015.
Iran has also underscored frequently that its military might poses no threat to other countries and that the Islamic Republic’s defense doctrine is entirely based on deterrence.
In his remarks, Jazayeri also warned the European states against "meddling” with Iran’s missile program.
"As the Islamic Republic of Iran has stated before, it does not accept to negotiate over its missile issues,” he said. "We are against any talks with the foreign sides on this issue,” Jazzayeri was quoted as saying.
The commander said there is no international convention or agreement to put restrictions on missile production and development by the states. "Therefore, we strictly advise and notify all sides to stay away from this issue.”
He also dismissed as "illegitimate” and "illegal” demands by the United States and some European states to negotiate regional issues, such Syria, with Iran.
He also said that the presence of U.S. troops in the region actually serves to support the "proxy warfare” that Washington is waging.
Iran has repeatedly insisted that its military capabilities are solely for defense purposes and pose no threat to other countries. But it has stressed that if it is invaded by another party, it will unleash destructive power on it.
Washington has on several occasions introduced sanctions against Iran over its missile program.
The United States claims that Iran’s missile tests and rocket launches violate UN Resolution 2231, which was adopted in July 2015 to endorse the nuclear agreement.
But that resolution does not prohibit Iran from engaging in missile activity. And the U.S. has thus failed to get other Security Council members on board with its sanctions, resorting to unilateral sanctions only.