Eurasia Press & News
TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar on Friday dismissed UN sanctions imposed on Iran as “psychological warfare” and suggested they would not affect Iran’s missile production capability.
The UN Security Council banned Iran from importing or exporting sensitive nuclear materials and technology as well as ballistic missile delivery systems in a move aimed at stopping it from nuclear enrichment activities that can be used in nuclear weapons.
“We see these sanctions as a psychological warfare that will have no effect on the output of Iran’s defense industries,” Najjar said in an interview with state television.
“We produce several items of defense industries in various fields. They are all indigenous and need no (assistance from) abroad,” he added.
Najjar said anything that the Iranian armed forces needed can be made in the Islamic Republic.
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on December 23, which imposes restrictions on Iran’s nuclear industry and ballistic missile program. Iran has refused to heed the council’s demand to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that Western countries fear could be used to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its atomic drive is entirely peaceful.
Iran’s parliament has approved a bill obliging the government to “revise its cooperation” with the UN nuclear watchdog in retaliation for Security Council sanctions imposed on Tehran.
The text of the bill, which also tells the government to “accelerate” Iran’s controversial nuclear program, was approved by an overwhelming majority in the conservative-controlled parliament, with 161 in favor and 15 against.
The formulation of the bill gives the government a free hand to limit cooperation with the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This could involve limiting UN inspections of its atomic sites, a move urged by several lawmakers.
