RNA - General Dehqan made the remarks, addressing the inauguration ceremony of the production line of small-caliber ammunition in Tehran on Monday.
"By inauguration and launching the production line, all Armed Forces' needs to small-caliber ammunition will be met, the capacity for the production of such ammunition will double and the ground will be paved for their export too," he underlined.
General Dehqan said that the ammunition manufactured in Iran enjoy high quality standards based on international norms.
The production line of small-caliber ammunition was inaugurated after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei stressed that Iran needed to enhance its defensive and offensive power, and asked senior military officials to push forward the country's arms development programs in all areas, except for chemical and nuclear weapons.
"In a world where the bullying powers are ruling without the least essence of morality, conscience and humanity and are no shy of invading other countries and massacring the innocent people, the development of defensive and offensive industries is quite natural, (Iran's) security is not established until these powers feel the country's power," the Supreme Leader said in August, addressing a group of top officials and experts of Iran's Ministry of Defense after touring an exhibition of the achievements of the country's Defense Industries.
Ayatollah Khamenei voiced his pleasure in visiting the exhibition of the defense industry achievements, and said, "The reason for this pleasure is that in addition to observing the defensive capabilities which play an important role in boosting the level and extent of the country's might, witnessing the learned, researcher and thoughtful, active and faithful forces is very gladdening and pleasing."
“Under the conditions that the world's bullying powers have spread their umbrella of power and show no mercy and openly attack wedding ceremonies and hospitals on the pretext of combating terrorism and shed the blood of hundreds of innocent people without being accountable to any organization or body, Iran's defensive capability and power must be increased so that the bullying powers would feel threatened,” the Supreme Leader said.
The Supreme Leader, yet, stressed that Iran sees certain redlines in developing its defense industries, reiterating that "manufacture of the weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) such as nuclear and chemical weapons is definitely prohibited on the basis of its ideological and religious beliefs".
He, however, reminded that the ban is on the production of chemical and nuclear weapons, but the country should develop its defensive capabilities against nuclear and chemical attacks.
“Apart from these limitations, there is no restriction in other fields for increasing our defense and military capabilities, and progress in these fields is a duty,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
He reiterated that in order to preserve Iran's security and future of the nation, the offensive capabilities should also be also bolstered along with the defensive power.
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