Sputnik News- Iran's ballistic missile tests are a consequence of its constant vigilance about national security, rather than a direct response to last month's exercises by the US, UK and France in the Persian Gulf, foreign policy adviser Sabbah Zanganeh told Sputnik.

Iran has successfully test-fired its Hormuz-2 ballistic missile, Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh of�the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told the Tasnim news agency on�Thursday.

The Hormuz-2 is a domestically-made ballistic missile capable of�destroying sea-based targets at�a range of�up to�300 kilometers (186 miles).

In Thursday's test, the missile managed to�successfully hit its target at�a distance of�250 km, Hajizadeh added.

He also told Tasnim that Iran had prepared a civilian rocket intended for�putting satellites into�orbit, but, fearing threats from�Washington, postponed the planned launch.

At the weekend, the IRNA news agency also announced the successful test of�a S-300 missile defense system delivered from�Russia last year.

Former adviser to�the Iranian foreign ministry Sabbah Zanganeh told Sputnik that Iran's rocket launches are taking place according to�a strict schedule, because the Iranian military is always working to�improve its defense capabilities.
"Iran has a lot of�wide coastal zones: from�the Persian Gulf to�the Chabahar region of�the Oman Strait which has access to�the Indian Ocean. These vast areas certainly need constant protection against�any kind of�threats, aggression and attacks."


"Iran has an inalienable right under�international law to�protect itself and its national interests, free trade and sovereignty. That's why the successful test of�the Hormuz-2 missile is of�a defensive nature and was carried out�according to�the Iranian military's strict schedule," Zanganeh said.

He said that local media is giving them unprecedented levels of�attention because of�recent naval exercises by�US, UK and French navies in�the Persian Gulf.
"Of course, the full-scale Western media coverage of�recent military exercises by�the US, British and French navies in�the Persian Gulf could not be ignored. But Iran will behave as�openly as�possible, it is not going to�change its position in�this regard."


"As a counterweight to�such growing threats from�the armed forces of�third countries, the Islamic Republic of�Iran shows the power of�its armed forces. Iran will strive to�improve its defense capability."
"Iran doesn't react to�the Western media's information 'scarecrows.' On the contrary, it guards its borders relentlessly with�its forces at�the ready to�deal with�any kind of�threat," Zanganeh said.


The Iranian military has reportedly conducted several weapons tests in�recent months. Last week the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched two short-ranged ballistic missiles, one of�which successfully destroyed a floating barge nearly 150 miles away in�the Gulf of�Oman.

On February 8, the military reportedly tested a short-range Mersad surface-to-air missile from�its Semnan launch pad.

On January 29, Iran conducted a medium-range ballistic missile test for�which it was stiffly rebuked by�the Trump administration, which announced new sanctions against�Iran for�conducting the test.

Iran maintains that the missile test did not violate the nuclear agreement or UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which affirmed the implementation of�the nuclear deal.