Moscow, IRNA – Iran’s Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali says the Islamic Republic has made gradual technological progress, including in its defense sector that was well visible in its recent retaliatory strikes against Israeli targets using missiles and drones.

Our missiles reaching the occupied territories mean "we can" progress and move forward, Jalali said referring to the punitive Iranian response to the Zionist regime, according to IRNA.

The Iranian envoy made the remarks on the sidelines of the 23rd International Exhibition for Equipment and Technologies for Oil and Gas Industries dubbed NEFTEGAZ 2024 in Moscow on Tuesday.

Speaking at the specialized round table held under the theme: Russia and Iran: Strategic Partnership in Oil and Gas Industry - Science and Technology, Jalali made a comparison between his country’s military capability during the imposed war in the 1980s and the current scenario.

Not only did Saddam (former Iraqi dictator) but the whole world especially Americans, British and French all fought with us, he reminded.

Saddam's regime fired missiles at us, we just watched them landing, but a few nights ago you saw that the Iranian nation, government and military forces were able to land their missiles on the Israeli regime, he noted.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Deputy Oil Minister and CEO of National Petrochemical Company (NPC) Morteza Shahmirzaei told a conference in Moscow via video link on Tuesday that his country was working to ensure that energy exports in the West Asia region are carried out without interruption after a retaliatory attack on Israel.

All countries and players should adhere to the principles of "non-harm" to energy producers to ensure stability, he underlined, referring to new Israeli military threats.

Iran has already pledged to respond to any action against its interests, a day after Israel warned it will respond to Tehran's weekend drone and missile strikes on the occupied territories.

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