Khamenei says war unlikely but urges boosting Iran’s defences

DUBAI — Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday war was unlikely, but called on Iran's armed forces to boost their defence capacities, according to his official website.

On Saturday, Iran announced plans to boost its ballistic and cruise missile capacity and acquire modern fighter planes and submarines to boost its defences following.

"Ayatollah Khamenei emphasised that there is no likelihood of a military war but added that the armed forces must be vigilant ...," the website quoted Khamenei as telling commanders of Iran's air defence forces.

"The air defence units were a very sensitive part of the armed forces and on the front line of confronting the enemy, and emphasised the need to increase their readiness and capabilities," the website said in its report on the gathering, which was held to mark Iran's Air Defence Day.

Saturday's news of the military development plans came a day after Iran dismissed a French call for negotiations on Tehran's future nuclear plans, its ballistic missile arsenal and its role in wars in Syria and Yemen.

A senior Iranian diplomat met visiting UK Junior Foreign Minister Alistair Burt and urged swift European action on a planned package of economic measures to offset the US pullout from the accord and US sanctions, Kamal Kharrazi, a former foreign minister who heads a top foreign policy council, told Burt, official news agency IRNA reported.

Iranian officials have said they would decide whether to quit the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers after studying the European package of economic measures that could help offset US sanctions.

"European countries have not been able yet to take necessary measures to secure Iran's interests under the agreement," Kharrazi said.

"[Burt] said Britain's position is different from that of the US," IRNA reported.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday the talks with Burt involved "access to banking resources and the sale of oil".