Sanctions, wars fueled leap in Iran’s defense technologies: Acting defense minister

Iran’s acting defense minister says sanctions and unprovoked wars have accelerated the country’s defense technology development, arguing that Iran emerged stronger despite facing the world’s most advanced military technologies.

Speaking at a joint meeting between the Ministry of Defense and members of the Iranian Parliament’s Education, Research and Technology Commission on Monday, Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Ebn al-Reza said the recent war demonstrated the effectiveness of Iran’s strategy of relying on indigenous expertise and domestic technological capabilities.

Referring to a recent message by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, Ebn al-Reza said recent events had once again exposed “the enemy’s lack of credibility and the worthlessness of US commitments.”

“This discrediting and exposure were achieved through the presence and perseverance of the people, Iranian ingenuity, and indigenous technology,” he said.

“Accordingly, the Ministry of Defense’s strategy is founded on relying on domestic knowledge, the capabilities of the country’s talents, and the continuous development of defense technologies — a strategy that clearly proved its effectiveness during the recent war.”

He said scientists at the ministry confronted the world’s most advanced technologies, and even though Iran’s enemies had mobilized leading global technology companies during the “12-day war” and the “Ramadan war,” the Islamic Republic successfully overcame the challenge.

The United States and Israel launched unprovoked wars against the Islamic Republic on June 13 and February 28 that lasted 12 and 40 days, respectively. The Iranian Armed Forces managed to force the aggressors into asking for truce during both rounds of assaults.

Iran’s indigenous air defense systems rapidly replaced during war: General

Iran’s Army Air Defense Force says damaged indigenous air defense systems were repaired and replaced in the shortest possible time throughout the recent US-Israeli war of aggression.

The acting defense minister said much of Iran’s defense infrastructure had been established years earlier through long-term planning and the efforts of young experts and knowledge-based companies, adding that damaged capabilities were restored in a short period.

According to Ebn al-Reza, technological and tactical “surprises” introduced even during the war caught Iran’s foes off guard and turned the war into “an opportunity for a leap in defense technologies.”

Describing the recent war as “a war of intellects, talents, engineers and technologists,” he said Iranian scientists and engineers stood up to major technological powers despite sanctions, restrictions and shortages.

He also said the production of missiles, drones and other military equipment continued uninterrupted throughout the war and, “in some areas, increased severalfold.”

The acting minister added that Iran’s scientific and technological ecosystem would ensure the country “never feels the impact of sanctions or shortages,” calling it the driving force behind future defense innovation.

He also welcomed growing interest from academics, researchers, and knowledge-based companies seeking to participate in defense projects, saying Iran’s future defense industry “will be shaped by the elites and scientists of this land.”

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