Iran Will Become A Top Arms Exporter Once Sanctions Lifted, Commander Says
The top military commander of the Islamic Republic says Iran will become one of the world's biggest arms exporters once sanctions are lifted.
The top military commander of the Islamic Republic says Iran will become one of the world's biggest arms exporters once sanctions are lifted.
Chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri made the remarks during a ceremony at the mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, on Monday.
Bagheri boasted about the power of Islamic Republic’s precision-guided missiles and drones with multiple applications.
“We don’t need anybody. We determine our strategy, policy and doctrine”, he said, adding that except for “three main superpowers in the world” no country can do this, “not even the Europeans”.
During recent days, while the government has been celebrating the revolution's anniversary, many officials have made such remarks about Iran’s military power.
IRGC Commander Hossein Salami said on Friday that “no world power is capable of confronting the Iranian nation” and the editor of a hardliner daily operating under the aegis of the supreme leader says Iran's precision missiles can target any spot in Europe.
Members of the US House of Representatives asked President Joe Biden last week to focus on Iran’s ballistic-missile capabilities, expressing concerns about attempts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile which could “potentially put US allies in Europe as well as the US homeland in range.”
Lawmakers demanded written answers in 30 days to questions about the capability of CENTCOM defense systems against the missile threat and the administration’s measures to enforce sanctions on sectors of Iran’s economy that support the ballistic missile program.
The commander of the police, General Hossein Ashtari, a senior Revolutionary Guard officer, said Sunday that 1,800 cars, 700 motorcycles, 250 “tactical vehicles” and 85 boats were procured and distributed.
Fars news that published the report gave no details about the kind of cars purchased by the police, but Iran uses a mix of domestically assembled cars as well as imported models, such as Toyota SUVs and Mercedes cars in the past. But 1,800 cars alone would cost tens of millions of dollars.
Motorcycles are mainly used to disperse protesters when special anti-riot personnel, two per motorcycle, show up in groups of 20 or more and drive toward small or large crowds. The men sitting in the back use sticks or even chains to attack civilians.
Tactical vehicles are a variety of heavy, armored semi-trucks and trucks, designed to confront and disperse protesters. They are assembled in Iran, but engines and other parts are imported. Some are used as powerful water trucks and others have special devices to fire tear gas.
The special anti-riot forces have been instrumental in the past to stop nationwide protests. Civilians have no way to protect themselves against swarming motorcycles or armored vehicles, while often these forces have permission to open fire on protesters.
In November 2019, a variety of forces were used to put down nationwide protests, including armed vigilante-type groups, riot police and according to some accounts, even Iraqi and Afghan militiamen. As a result, hundreds were killed in the streets. Reuters put the figure at 1,500, while Amnesty International has conformed 304 deaths.
The news of the large procurements comes as the Islamic Republic leadership call for more support for the police after an officer was stabbed to death by an alleged criminal this week. Iran’s parliament has vowed to relax current laws on use of firearms by the police, although during protests security forces have felt to inhibition on opening fire on civilians.
Police chief Ashtari presented the news of procurements as giving more mobility to security forces that are under the umbrella of the armed forces, with the leadership of the Revolutionary Guard, IRGC. He said the move will strengthen security on borders and for ordinary people.
He called on political leaders to support police requests for more support in next year’s budget. Already this year, security forces have received several raises amid high double-digit inflation, while other government employees receive half of what is needed for minimum expenses, estimated to be more than $400 a month for a family of 3.3.
Teachers and even court workers and prison guards have been protesting for pay raises to partially redress the impact of inflation that has seen food prices rise by 60 percent in the past year.
