WORLD / Middle East
Iran: Military not affected by sanctions
(AP)
Updated: 2007-04-18 19:57
TEHRAN, Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that UN
sanctions slapped on his nation over its nuclear program had no effect on
Iran's armed forces, claiming that his military was self-sufficient.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves as he stands at the 'Nations
Gate' of the Persepolis, the ancient Persian capital built by Darius I,
during his visit to the Fars province, 540 miles (900 kilometers) south
of the capital Tehran,Tuesday, April 17, 2007. [AP]
"Some bullying powers imagined that by implementing sanctions they would
weaken our army, (but) today our army is self-sufficient and secures its
needs in general," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in Tehran marking
National Army Day.
After decades of reliance on foreign weapons purchases, Iran's military
has been working to boost its domestic production of armaments.
Since 1992, it has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers,
missiles and a fighter plane. It announced in 2005 that it had begun
production of torpedoes.
Iran's military had a defensive and deterrent role, Ahmadinejad said in
his Wednesday address, but it "will counter any invader and cut off its
hand."
He delivered his address standing under a large banner declaring:
"Peaceful nuclear technology is an essential need of our country."
A military parade that followed his speech included the display for the
first time of a locally manufactured air defense system said by the
announcer to have the capability of simultaneously launching two
surface-to-air missiles.
The UN Security Council has set a deadline of late May for Iran to halt
its uranium enrichment program, warning it will gradually ratchet up its
sanctions after imposing limited ones in December and strengthening them
slightly last month.
Special coverage:
Iran Nuke Issue
Related readings:
Iran says could reveal new "nuclear achievements"
US military says Iran helping Iraq
Iran to install 50,000 centrifuges
The latest sanctions ban Iranian arms exports and freeze the assets of 28
individuals and companies involved in Iran's nuclear or ballistic missile
programs.
Iran denies charges by the US and some of its allies that it is secretly
developing nuclear weapons and Ahmadinejad warned Monday that Iran would
respond to additional UN sanctions with new nuclear advances.
He did not specify how Iran planned to do that.
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