TEHRAN, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran is currently capable of mass-producing the Shahab-3 middle-ranged ballistic missile, the student news agency ISNA quoted Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani as reporting on Tuesday.

    "We are currently able to mass-produce the Shahab-3 missile, just like we produce the Paykan (cars)," Shamkhani said, comparing manufacture of the missile to that of the popular homemade cars. 

    "Iran has mastered the technology and is not limited on the volume of the production. We have accomplished our objectives of promoting defense capabilities," Shamkhani said.

    Iran has been engaged in the development of missile system since the US and Israel threatened to launch preemptive attacks on the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities with the accusation that it was secretly developing atomic weapons.

    On Aug. 11, Tehran announced a successful test firing of an upgraded version of the Shahab-3 missile, which, military experts estimated, had a range of 1,300 km and was capable of striking Israel or any other enemy target in the region.

    Shamkhani said late August that the Islamic Republic had achieved an "effective deterrent power" to confront its enemies in the region.

    At the end of September, Shamkhani announced a new "strategic" missile has been successfully test-fired and delivered to the Iranian armed forces.

    The defense minister told reporters On Oct. 20 that Iran test fired a more accurate version of the Shahab-3 missile.

    Former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, currently Chairman of the powerful Expediency Council, also said in October that Iran now has ballistic missiles with a range of 2,000 km. Enditem