Commander Downplays Effects of Sanctions on Iran's Defense Industry

TEHRAN (FNA)- Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi stressed that the international and the West's unilateral sanctions against Iran have left no negative impact on the country's defense industry and merely strengthened the country's independence and national resolve.
"Iran is now the only country under heavy, comprehensive and different pressures of sanction. The pressures have mainly targeted Iranian armed forces. But the great Iranian nation is proud that its research and scientific efforts have made sanctions ineffective and that Iran's defense power has always grown," Firouzabadi said on Saturday.

The UN Security Council has imposed four sets of sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt peaceful nuclear program.

The embargo mainly targets Iran's banking and energy sectors as well as insurance and shipping industry. Also the EU and America have imposed unilateral sanctions against Iran.

Iran insists its enrichment work only seeks peaceful purposes including meeting medical needs and power generation.