Supreme Leader: Arms production in Iran seeks defensive purposes

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 22, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said here on Wednesday that arms production in Iran is aimed at defending the country and confronting the bullying enemies.

Addressing a group of armed forces personnel, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “The main aim behind arms production in the Islamic Republic is to defend the country and counter the bullying enemies, whereas the West produces such arms for trade purposes and adding up to the wealth of owners of arms manufacturing companies.”

The Ayatollah said thanks to endeavors of the Iranian Armed Forces, the sanctions imposed on the country have proved ineffective.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei lauded Iranian Armed Forces for their invaluable research, saying all research centers in the armed forces should exepdite their progress and avoid being engaged in parallel works or wasting of human and financial resources.

The research should not be product oriented, rather it should help upgrade science and technological know-how of the country, added the Paramount Leader.

Stressing promotion of research centers in the armed forces and support for the elite and researchers, Ayatollah Khamenei said research centers should have scientific cooperation with universities and other scientific centers within the frameworks of rules and regulations.

Prior to his speech , Ayatollah Khamenei paid a six-and-half-an-hour visit to an exhibition showcasing more than 300 scientific and technological achievements of the Armed Forces.

The exhibit displays space and maritime equipment, air defense systems, aircraft, helicopters, unmanned planes, vessels, submarines sophisticated two- and three-dimensional radars, electronic jet equipment, cyber war systems, and other scientific and technological achievements of the Armed Forces including the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, the Islamic Republic Army, Police and Defense Ministry.