'Iran defence industry unharmed by sanctions'

Tehran, Dec 29: Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar today 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 defence industries,'' Najjar said in an interview with state television.

''We produce several items of defence industries in various fields. They are all indigenous and need no (assistance from) abroad,'' he added.

Najjar did not specifically refer to missile production, but said anything that the Iranian armed forces needed can be made in the Islamic Republic.

Iran, which denies Western charges that it wants to build nuclear weapons, has pledged to continue its nuclear work despite the sanctions.

Iran has missiles with a range of up to 2,000 km in its arsenal, putting arch-foe Israel within range. Iranian officials have also said its weapons can hit the whole Gulf region, an area where the United States, its main enemy, has military units.

REUTERS

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