Iran to boost weapons exports despite US embargo

Iran intends to boost its weapons exports despite US embargo, Iranian Brigadier General Amir Hatami said quoted in local media.

“Many countries have already talked to us; we have held negotiations with some countries, and the grounds are totally prepared for exchanges [of weapons], both for selling [arms to other countries] and for supplying certain needs [buying weapons],” Hatami said in a televised interview on Sunday 18 October.

“Of course our sales will be much more extensive [than our purchases],” he added.

The defense minister motivated the decision on the ground that according to International Law all nations have the right to defend their territorial integrity.

He said Iran aims to become self-sufficient in terms of defensive capabilities and to support the countries that seek to “defend their existence”.

The 2015 nuclear deal – known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – which included the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) embargo on trade of conventional weapons with the Islamic Republic expired on Sunday.

The JCPOA had been endorsed by the Security Council in the form of Resolution 2231.

This development came in spite of months-long attempts by the United States to keep the arms embargo in place.

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In his Sunday remarks, General Hatami said the unilateral sanctions imposed by the US against Iran pushed the country to move toward self-sufficiency, so much so that Iran can now produce and supply about 90 per cent of its defense needs inside the country.

“Even our enemies admit that Iran today is a significant missile power in the world. … It is also a renowned world power in the aerial field,” especially in producing drones and missile defense systems, Hatami said.

“Our Khordad-3 defense system managed to target an expensive American stealth drone which had intruded the Iranian airspace,” he noted.