Iranian missile test (archive photo)
Photo: AFP
Iran: Missile industry won’t be hurt by sanctions
Two days after UN Security Council decides to impose sanctions on Islamic Republic, Iranian officials continue to condemn decision, claiming illegality of resolution. During visit to Iranian military industrial factories, defense minister says country’s missile industry based on self-sufficient knowledge, won’t be hurt by sanctions
Iran continued to condemn the resolution passed by the UN Security Council Saturday to impose sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Iranian Defense Minister Mustafa Mohammed Najjar responded Monday to the UN resolution, saying that the Iranian missile industry is more independent than ever, and is based on self-sufficient knowledge.
“Thanks to the efforts of the scientists and experts of the Defense Ministry, the defense industry, namely, the missile industry, is more independent than ever,” said Najjar.
Iranian Defiance
Iranian president warns backers of Security Council nuclear resolution against his country, says those who voted for sanctions would soon regret it. 'We will celebrate our atomic achievements in February,' he adds
During a visit to Iran’s defense industry factories, the minister called the Security Council resolution “a blatant violation of international law,” and emphasized: “Iran won’t surrender to assertions of power, discrimination, and to the apartheid regime in the nuclear and missile field.”
According to him, sanctions of this kind are invalid and unimportant. He said, “The sanctions and threats will not cause any kind of damage to the will of the nation, who has sacrificed thousands of martyrs for its liberty and independence.”
'We are not angry at anyone'
He added that Iran is not afraid of isolation in the international arena. “The one who isolates is he who occupies, uses terror, has atomic bombs, and tries to impose his illegitimate wishes,” he asserted.
In the meantime, Iranian Government Spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham made it clear that Tehran is not worried about the Security Council resolution, and added that Iran intends to continue developing nuclear technology. According to him, “The basis of the Security Council resolution against Iran is mere illusion, and you can’t forbid a state from exercising its right on the basis of an illusion.”
According to a report in the Iranian news agency Maher, the spokesman noted, “We are not angry at anyone. We will continue walking our proper path, and we won’t forego our rights.”
Elham concluded, “This resolution is like theoretical supervision. The time for this has passed, and returning to it is dangerous. The West itself is ashamed of this resolution. They know that it won’t have any effect.”
Saturday, all 15 Security Council members authorized a resolution to impose sanctions on Iran. According to Resolution 1737, all UN Member States must stop supplying Iran with raw materials, equipment, and technology that are likely to be used by Iran in its uranium enrichment program, nuclear activity related to heavy water, or for research and development of ballistic missiles.
