In a statement on the occasion of the National Day of Defense Industry on Tuesday, the IRGC reiterated the role of defense sciences and industries in the process of the country's development and elevation, and highlighted the immense and eye-catching advancements achieved by the technicians in defense industry field, particularly under the imposed threats and sanctions.
"Despite the full scale enmity of the oppression front and the global oppression system against the Iranian nation and the chain of sanctions during the past 33 years (since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979), the field of defense industries has taken advantage of the existing potentials and cradles, as well as the capabilities of its own creative forces, providing the basic requirements and defense needs of the country," the IRGC statement said.
"The defense industry has in this period meanwhile set the foundations of a strong and mighty structure in this field, challenging the oppressor powers that are armed with superior advanced technologies and pushed them towards a pacifist stand," the statement added.
The statement further described Iran's defense industry as "symbol of country's might and national production".
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.
The Iranian Armed Forces recently test-fired different types of newly-developed missiles and torpedoes and tested a large number of its home-made weapons, tools and equipments, including submarines, military ships, artillery, choppers, aircraft, UAVs and air defense and electronic systems, in a series of massive military drills.
Defense analysts and military observers say that Iran's wargames and its advancements in weapons production have proved as a deterrent factor, specially at a time of heightened threats by the US.
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The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) stressed that Iran's defense industries have played a key role in the development of the country, and lauded Tehran's eye-catching achievements in defense industries despites the western sanctions and restrictions.
News ID 182507
