Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said Wednesday that Iran's missile capacity is only for defensive purposes, Iran's satellite channel Press TV reported.

A video grab from Al Alam television shows one of nine long- and medium-range missiles being fired during a test in Iran July 9, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

"Our missile capacity is just for defensive purposes, to safeguard peace in Iran and the Persian Gulf region," Najjar was quoted as saying.

"Our missiles will not be used to threaten any country and they are only intended for those who dare attack Iran," he added.

The Iranian defense minister made the remarks shortly after Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) successfully test fired new long- and mid-range missiles in response to threats from the United States and Israel.

In military exercises dubbed Payambar-e Azam 3 (Great Prophet 3) , the IRGC on earlier Wednesday test fired a Shahab 3 missile, which can hit any target within a range of 2,000 km, Press TV said.

The Shahab 3 ballistic missile was equipped with a one-ton conventional warhead, it added.