国际英语新闻:Iran says missile program non-negotiable in nuclear talks

TEHRAN, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iran's missile program is non- negotiable in any talks between the Islamic republic and the powers, Brig. Gen. Amir-Ali Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency on Monday.

Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' Aerospace Force, said the West's insistence that Iran's ballistic missiles should become a subject of negotiations is a testimony to the country's good capabilities in that sphere.

"They (Westerners) would have denied Iran such capability if they could," the commander said. "But our missile power is non- negotiable."

His comments came against the backdrop of a trilateral meeting in Muscat, Oman, of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, EU envoy Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif.

The two-day meeting, which started Sunday, comes just two weeks before the Nov. 24 deadline for a comprehensive deal on the controversial nuclear program of the Islamic republic.