All you need to know about Iran's planed ballistic and cruise missile capacity

Iran says its missile program is exclusively defensive in nature and not negotiable, as the United States and European countries demand. Tehran also says its plans to develop missiles are not linked to its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Iran plans to increase its ballistic and cruise missile capacity, as well as acquire a new generation of fighter jets and submarines, the Iranian news agency IRNA quoted a senior official of the Ministry of Defense on Saturday.

Iran says its missile program is exclusively defensive in nature and not negotiable, as the United States and European countries demand. Tehran also says its plans to develop missiles are not linked to its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

"Increasing the capacity of ballistic and cruise missiles ... and the acquisition of new generation fighters, of large tonnage and reach vessels and of submarines with diverse weapons capabilities are among the new plans of this ministry," he said. IRNA Mohammad Ahadi, Deputy Minister of Defense for International Affairs.

Ahadi also said that international sanctions have not hindered the development of Iran's arms industry.

"We have the necessary infrastructure and what we have to work on our research and development, and at the same time improve and update the defense industry," added Ahadi, quoted by IRNA.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said last month that the military capacity of the Islamic Republic was what dissuaded Washington from attacking them, while the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the United States would avoid any military confrontation with Tehran due to the power of his country.