Khamenei urges stronger missile development

Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran should further develop its military, including its missiles, if the previously defined limits are becoming too restrictive.

The event displayed advanced equipment and new technologies used in areas such as air defense, ballistic and cruise missiles, smart munitions, space, drones, aviation, vessels, and energy.

Khamenei's remarks come after U.S. President Donald Trump made threats of force against Tehran if it refused to negotiate over its nuclear programme.

"Progress should not be stopped, we cannot be satisfied with our current level." Khamenei said, citing a need to focus on innovation in the Iranian military.

"Today, our defensive power is well-known, our enemies are afraid of this." he added after visiting a Tehran exhibition showcasing the latest developments in Iran's defence sector.

Tehran insists its ballistic missile programme is purely defensive but it is seen in the West as a destabilising factor in a volatile, conflict-ridden region.

Khamenei, who said that talks with the United States were "not smart, wise or honourable", made no mention of Trump in his remarks.

Trump last week restored his "maximum pressure" policy towards Iran that includes efforts to drive its oil exports down to zero to push the Islamic Republic into a deal that would severely constrain its disputed nuclear programme.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in Tehran, addressing a gathering of Defense Ministry officials, defense industry elites, the ministry’s experts and staff, and families of the martyrs hailing from the country’s defense industry.

The Leader described the day marking the Revolution’s victory as one of the most significant national events, showcasing the unity and strength of the Iranian people despite relentless external pressures.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the celebrations on this year’s anniversary were not just a commemoration, but a powerful act of resistance and national unity.