Iran among top 10 countries in defense capabilities

Iran is one of the top ten countries in the world in terms of defense capabilities, according to Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi.


 “I can declare with confidence that Iran is among the top ten countries in the world which has succeeded in playing its role efficiently in the area of defense,” Vahidi told reporters in Tehran on Sunday on the sidelines of a festival on defense industries and their adherence to environmentally friendly policies.

On Iran’s nuclear activities, he said, “Iran’s policy in the nuclear issue is defending the nation’s rights, and we will never forego our rights.”

He added, “As the Supreme Leader of the Revolution has stated, the use of nuclear weapons is haram (prohibited in Islam) and the Westerners should be aware of this issue.”

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa on April 17, 2010 declaring that the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons are all haram.

The United States, Israel, and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program.

However, the International Atomic Energy Agency has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran’s civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.

And Iran is a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and thus has the right to enrich uranium to produce fuel.