IRAN will increase the maximum range of its missiles if it is threatened by Europe, the Deputy head of the Revolutionary Guard has warned.
The military chief claimed Tehran would boost the range beyond the current limit of 2000km (1243 miles).
The current cap keeps almost all of Europe, including the UK, out of range of Iranian missiles.
Iran’s ballistic missile programme must be the subject of an “uncompromising,” dialogue France has demanded.
The European power called for the discussion of issues not covered by the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
Brigadier General Hossein Salami said: “If we have kept the range of our missiles to 2,000 kilometres, it’s not due to lack of technology. ... We are following a strategic doctrine.”
Tehran has always insisted its missile programme is purely defensive.
Gen Salami said: “So far we have felt that Europe is not a threat, so we did not increase the range of our missiles. But if Europe wants to turn into a threat, we will increase the range of our missiles.”
Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari warned that the current maximum range already included “most of American interest and forces” in the Middle East.
He also claimed that the limits were set by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The news comes after Iran hit back at the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince for insulting the country's Supreme Leader.
The Saudi royal was slapped down as “immature” as the war of words rages on.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman was warned to “ponder the fate” of Middle Eastern dictators.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the ominous comments after he was accused of being the “new Hitler” of the region by the Saudi Prince.
Iran’s foreign minister Bahram Qasemi blasted bin Salman’s “inconsiderate, and baseless remarks and behaviour”.
He said: ”I strongly advise him to think and ponder upon the fate of the famous dictators of the region in the past few years now that he is thinking of considering their policies and behaviour as a role model.”
In the statement that sparked the retaliation, Prince Mohammad bin Salman said: “We learned from Europe that appeasement doesn’t work.
“We don’t want the new Hitler in Iran to repeat what happened in Europe in the Middle East.”
Saudi Arabia and Iran have rival interests and alliances across the Middle East.