MP: Iran Able to Export Military Tools to Other States
News number: 8906061565 18:11 | 2010-08-28
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8906061565

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior lawmaker noted Iran's advancement in the production
of military tools, weapons and equipment, and said Tehran is prepared to
export its products to the other countries.

"The government has the ability to export military equipment to different
countries," member of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy
Commission Seyed Mohammad Javad Abtahi told FNA on Saturday.

Last week, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi
underlined Iran's advanced capabilities in manufacturing military tools,
equipment and weapons, and underlined Tehran's readiness to share its
military capabilities with the other countries.

Now that Iran has become self-sufficient in manufacturing military equipment
it can share its technical know-how with other countries and export its
products to over 50 nations, Vahidi explained at the time.

Also in July 2010, a senior Iranian military expert dismissed possible
effects of the western sanctions on Iran's defensive power and industries,
saying that the country is exporting arms and military equipment to 40 world
states at present.

"Despite 30-year-long sanctions against the defense industries, the Islamic
Republic is currently exporting military equipment to 40 countries," General
Yadollah Javani told FNA at the time.

Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed
war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has
produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter
planes.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and
arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a
threat to any other country.