Iran conducts missile tests

TEHRAN, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Iran conducted missile tests Wednesday near its heavy water plant in Arak to boost the country's defense systems near vital sites, the Fars news agency said.

The missiles hit their designated targets, the news agency said.

The Iranian Students News Agency said mid-range surface-to-air missiles were tested near the Khondab nuclear center in central Iran, a reference to the Arak facility.

An Iranian official said the tests were part of efforts by the Islamic Republic to upgrade its missile defense systems and boost its defense capability, ISNA said.

Mohammad Khazaei, Iran's representative to the United Nations, said Tuesday his country will not negotiate its peaceful nuclear rights.

"We will not negotiate on our peaceful nuclear rights. To the Islamic Republic interaction in these talks is a strategy and not a tactic to buy time," he said referring to talks scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Istanbul with Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany on Iran's nuclear intentions, Press TV said.