In an open letter to President Hassan Rouhani on Friday, Iranian senior official Mohsen Rezaei thanked Rouhani for his quick response to US threats by issuing a decree urging Ministry of Defense to continue Iran’s missile program with more promptness and seriousness, as a response to reports on US preparing to introduce new sanctions on the Islamic Republic regarding its missile program.

“The meddling nature of the US has proved that in these situations, nothing less than a firm and serious response can defend the country’s national interests. Apparently, after some thirty years after the Islamic Revolution, US authorities are still reluctant to recognize the independence and sovereignty of our country and think they have a right to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs as they had done during Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties,” Rezaei wrote in the letter.

“Just as our development of 20,000 centrifuges brought the US to the negotiating table, leading to the recognition of our right for enriching uranium, I am hoping with the full support from the government, the country’s missile range would exceed 5,000 kilometers,” he added.

Rezaei stressed that once the country’s missile defense reaches the range of 5,000 km, it could pose a threat to Diego Garcia island, which served as the US air base in the attack on Iran in Tabas incident.

“The US will regret its behavior and realize such actions [imposing sanctions] will bring about no benefits,” he said.

Rezaei concluded the letter by urging President Rouhani to implement the plans for Resistance Economy as soon as possible, so that “it will be proved to the US once again that Iran is able to achieve a developed economy despite all the unjust sanctions;” Mehr News reported.

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