Senior Commander: Iran to Continue Production, Imports of Weapons Irrespective of Foreign Views

“Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran has reached self-sufficiency in building different types of military equipment and enjoys the capability of producing certain weapons whose technology has not yet been developed or given to all countries, and therefore, they are owned by some limited world states,” Army Commander in Northeastern Iran Brigadier General Ali Jahanshahi told FNA on Wednesday.

To supply or produce its military needs and equip its army with different types of equipment and weapons, Iran doesn’t need to take permission from any country and anyone, he said, and “if any country or anyone wants to intrude in this regard, it will certainly face our crushing response.”

Jahanshani also downplayed the military threats by certain regional countries, and said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s borders are secure for our friends and insecure for our enemies and we advise the enemy to consider its size and power when threatening the Islamic Republic of Iran and we stress that our response to the slightest military move will be the Islamic Republic of Iran’s iron fist.”

In relevant remarks on Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined that Iran would not allow foreign countries to interfere in its defense and military affairs and will continue arms sales and purchase irrespective of the views of third party states.

“We will purchase weapons from wherever we deem necessary and we are not waiting for anyone’s permission; if we deem necessary we will sell our weapons and we will do this without paying attention to any resolution,” President Rouhani said, addressing a ceremony held to commemorate the National Defense Industry Day in Iran.

The Iranian president, meantime, lauded the achievements of the Iranian experts and engineers in the defense industry sector.

“There is a high-speed movement towards self-sufficiency in the defense industry sector,” President Rouhani said.

He reiterated that Iran was pursuing a defensive and deterrence strategy, and said, “We pursue the policy of détente, convergence and confidence-building with the world, yet this policy does not run counter to our defensive power and industry.”

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

On Friday, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that the Islamic Republic of Iran would continue improving its missile systems in a bid to enhance the country’s defense capabilities against enemies’ possible threats.

“The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), in full compliance with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei’s orders, will continue developing its defense capabilities and military might, specially the surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, and it will not compromise when dealing with the country’s defense issues,” Brigadier General Hajizadeh said, addressing a ceremony in the city of Qaemshahr, Northern Iran.

Brigadier General Hajizadeh also announced Iran’s plans to hold massive ballistic missiles drills in the near future.

“The IRGC Aerospace Force will hold a large-scale ballistic missiles war-games soon,” Brigadier General Hajizadeh said.

He, meantime, reiterated that the IRGC Aerospace Force has successfully conducted all its missile tests over the past two years.