TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran's supreme leader said Wednesday (March 30) that missile power was key to the country's future security, slapping down moderates who say the focus should be on diplomacy.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all matters of state in Iran, praised the powerful Revolutionary Guards for their "show of advanced and precise missiles" in recent tests that drew Western criticism.

"In this jungle-like world, if the Islamic republic seeks negotiations, trade and even technology and science, but has no defence power, won't even small countries dare threaten Iran?" Khamenei said in remarks published on his official website.

"Our enemies are constantly enhancing their military and missile capabilities and given this how can we say the age of missiles has passed?"

His comments appeared aimed at ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a senior leader of the reformist and moderate camp, who last week tweeted: "Tomorrow's world is the world of dialogue not missiles."

They also came a day after the United States, France, Britain and Germany said Iran's recent ballistic missile tests violate UN Security Council resolutions.

The same four countries, along with Russia and China, reached the historic agreement with Iran last year that saw Tehran scale down its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

Iran has twice tested ballistic missiles since the July 14 deal, prompting Western condemnation and new US sanctions.

"The enemies of the revolution... use dialogue, economic trade, sanctions, military threats and any other means to further their goals," Khamenei said. "We should be able to confront and defend in all of these fields." He said those who believe only diplomacy is the key to Iran's future are acting out of "ignorance or treason".