Iran’s defense minister visiting Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) praised its efforts in boosting the military capabilities by supporting the air force.

General Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani said the defense ministry’s role is strengthening strategic industries and production to provide hardware to the armed forces. He was speaking to the senior management of the AIO, which is officially a state organization to develop civil aviation.

He stressed the importance of setting priorities in the quest to become self-sufficient in industry and military capabilities.

Iran has been under various kinds of arms embargoes, including a UN Security Council embargo that ended in October 2020, since the inception of the Islamic Republic in 1979. But it has managed to develop a strong missile force and lately lethal drones that have led to concerns in the region and in the West.

Deputy Defense Minister General Seyed Mehdi Farahi also spoke at the event, emphasizing that 280 private companies in Iran are involved in aviation industry. He added that this potential could satisfy the needs of the armed forces in terms of quality, quantity and price of hardware.