Reuters - Iran has increased its missile production three-fold, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said Wednesday, according to the Fars news service.
The commander did not explain during what time period the production increase had taken place.


�In the past we had to do a lot of explaining to various bodies for our actions but it�s not like that anymore,� Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guards� aerospace division said, according to Fars.


�Our production has increased three-fold compared to the past,� he said, referring to missiles.


The government, parliament and other Iranian officials had, in particular, agreed on the need for ground-to-ground missiles, Hajizadeh said.


Fars gave no further details.


France�s foreign minister visited Iran on Monday on a delicate mission to reaffirm Europe�s support for a nuclear deal that opened Iran�s economy, while echoing U.S. concern about its missile program and role in regional conflicts.


Jean-Yves Le Drian�s visit reflected French efforts to safeguard Iran�s 2015 accord with major powers.


U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to pull out of the deal unless three European signatories help �fix� it by forcing Iran to limit its sway in the Middle East and rein in its missile program.


Senior Iranian officials told Le Drian on Monday that Iran�s ballistic missile program was not up for negotiation.





Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Robert Birsel