Iran's ingenuity is not broken by Western sanctions

The start of Iran's defense industry was precisely from cooperation with the US. The first nuclear unit came from the US through "Atoms for Peace".

AFP/ATTA KENARE

Sayyad-4B missiles are transported in Tehran, Iran, on April 17, 2024

weapons industrial development Iran has not been broken by repeated attacks by the West since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Iran's resilience is based on the excellence of its scientists. continue to be cultivated. Iran is also clever at finding loopholes, from building factories abroad to using a network of partners that the West and its allies call a "smuggler" network.

The advancement of Iran's weapon industry was proven by an attack on Israel that occurred on Saturday (14/4/2024) last week. Iran launched over 300 unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles towards Israel. The attack included 170 aircraft, 30 cruise missiles, and at least 110 ballistic missiles.

Also read: After the assassination of Iran's nuclear architect, various parties do not want conflict to escalate

Since 1992, Iran has developed a domestic defense industry. The industry produces light and heavy weapons, from mortars and torpedoes to tanks, submarines, drones and missiles.

Iran's next display of weapons was seen at a military parade in Tehran, Wednesday (17/4/2024). Iran showcases new version of Bavar-373, long-range air defense artillery. The initial generation of Bavar, which means 'faith', was launched in 2019. Quoted from Irna, Iranian authorities claim that the latest generation of Bavar-373 is capable of intercepting the F-35 fighter jet made by United States.

IRAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE/AFP

The mobile air missile defense system developed by Iran, Bavar-373, was exhibited at the National Defense Industry Day in Tehran, Thursday (22/8/2019).

The Special Operations Forces Report (Sofrep) website writes that the appearance of Bavar-373 in the parade was quite surprising. The launchers and trackers mounted on the Belarusian-made MZKT-791300 8×8 trucks signify a significant development for Iran's defense industry. This new weapon demonstrates Iran's increased self-reliance and its desire for a more advanced air defense network.

Iranian media, Irna and Mehr, reported an increase in tracking capabilities for the new generation Bavar-373. This weapon is capable of identifying up to 100 airborne targets simultaneously. The Sayyad-4B missile will be launched from the Bavar-373 to the targets. Sayyad-4B is an enhancement of Sayyad-4.

Also read: Iran Announces Seven New Weapons

In his speech during its launch in 2019, the former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani revealed that the Bavar-373 air defense system was even stronger than the Russian S-300 defense system and almost competed with the S-400.

Impact of sanctions

The development of Bavar-373 began with the United Nations (UN) sanctions on Iran. Because of the sanctions, the agreement to sell the S-300 from Russia to Iran was suspended in 2010. Russia was only able to complete the delivery of the S-300 to Tehran in 2016 after the sanctions were removed.

IRAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (second from the left) gave a speech when launching their own domestically-made mobile air missile defense system called Bavar-373 in Tehran on Tuesday (22/8/2019).

The lifting of sanctions is part of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Iran Nuclear Agreement. Signed in 2015, JCPOA involved the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany, and Iran.

"The JCPOA was achieved after a long and winding process of more than 10 years. "Clearly this is an extraordinary diplomatic achievement which gives new hope for opening up the resolution of problems in the Middle East," said Dian Wiringjurit, Indonesian Ambassador to Iran 2012-2016 in his book, Iran: Nuclear, Sanctions, Military and Diplomacy< /i>.

Also read: Revealing the Secret of the Houthi Downing of a Sophisticated United States Airplane

Indeed, the US unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018. The US did this during the administration of Donald Trump. Not only did Trump withdraw from the JCPOA, but he also added sanctions on Iran.

Tehran is angry and accuses Washington of not respecting its commitments. In response to this, Rouhani has ordered Iran to continue enriching uranium without any restrictions.

Since then, Western suspicions about Iran developing nuclear weapons have become even greater. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also repeatedly expressed concern. In a report from February 2024, the IAEA estimated that Iran's enriched uranium stockpile had reached more than 27 times the limit set in the 2015 agreement.

Iran has repeatedly denied it. "Iran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. Nuclear weapons have no place in our nuclear doctrine," said the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani, on Monday (22/4/2024).

Close partnership

Iran's progress in the defense industry amid Western sanctions shows that the country has achieved independence. This is supported by strong partnerships with Russia, China, and North Korea.

AP/IRANIAN ARMY MEDIA OFFICE

A number of Iranian-made drones were exhibited in Tehran, Iran, in January 2024.

Interestingly, Iran's own weapon industry was actually established together with the US since 1957. Iran even obtained its first nuclear program from the US program "Atoms for Peace". At that time, Iran had close ties with the US. The condition was that Iran was not allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

After the 1979 Revolution, relations between Iran and the US were severed. It was then that the US began imposing sanctions on Iran. However, the foundation of the defense industry already existed. "Political relations may be broken, but the knowledge and infrastructure are already there and even continue to be developed," said Dian Wirengjurit, who was contacted from Jakarta on Saturday (27/4/2024).

Also read: There are Russia-Iran, why is Syria often not protected from Israeli attacks?

According to Dian, Iran's capability stems from its rich human and natural resources. Iran is rich in oil, iron, uranium, and mineral mines that support the domestic weapons industry.

In the field of human resources, Iran continues to cultivate experts in the field of weapons and nuclear. For example, in the 1990s, Iran brought back 77 Iranian scientists from abroad and trained new ones. These nuclear scientists were sent for further studies in Italy. The Tehran Nuclear Research Center (TNRC) in Isfahan, the central city of Iran's nuclear research, is estimated to have 3,000 nuclear scientists.

IRANIAN ARMY MEDIA OFFICE / AFP

A number of Iranian-made drones were exhibited in Tehran, Iran, in January 2024.

Dian stated that currently there are many Iranian experts scattered in various countries. They become a source of knowledge exchange from abroad, including in the field of weapons.

One of the proofs of Iran's military intelligence is their ability to intercept and bring down a US unmanned aircraft in 2012. Iran did not blow up the aircraft. Therefore, Iran was able to study the technology in the aircraft.

Also read: Iran Attacks Israel with Hundreds of Drones

One year after that, Iran was able to make a plane resulting from the adaptation of US technology. Since then, Iran's unmanned aircraft industry has continued to develop. Even now, Russia is using planes made in Iran.

Iran's enemies are aware of the importance of scientists as the backbone of Iran's defense industry. It is no surprise that from 2012 to 2020, six Iranian nuclear scientists were targeted for assassination. Five of them were successfully killed.

IRANIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY / AFP

Funeral of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, in Qom, Iran, in November 2020.

The last one is Mohsen Fakhrizadeh who was killed in a satellite-controlled machine gun attack outside Tehran in 2020. The West viewed Fakhrizadeh as the mastermind behind Iran's secret nuclear weapon development, which was later denied by Tehran.

Partner network

Besides its scientists, Iran also cleverly builds drone component factories abroad. As reported by Iranian media Irna and The New Arab, Iran has at least an unmanned aircraft assembly facility in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Iran is also suspected of having similar facilities in Venezuela, southern Lebanon, and is currently in the process of building a new factory in Russia.

Also read: Iran Executes Mossad Spy

Farzin Nadimi, a defense and security analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, stated that facilities overseas are intended to avoid sanctions. These facilities can also decentralize production that is subject to sanctions. In addition, these facilities can also streamline supply chains and avoid shipping planes in their entirety.

Western sanctions, which also greatly restrict the procurement of Iranian weapon components, can be cleverly avoided through complex channels. These channels, which the West considers to be black markets and smuggling routes.

IRANIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY VIA AP

Photos released by the Iranian Ministry of Defense, Thursday (25/5/2023), show the launch of the 4th generation Khorrammashahr missile at an undisclosed launch site.

The report by Nadimi, published on the Washington Institute's website, stated that Iran uses commercial airlines to transport weapon components. These flights use complex and convoluted routes and transit points.

Another important network for Iran's nuclear development is the Abdul Qadeer Khan network, a renowned nuclear scientist from Pakistan. In Pakistan, Khan, who died of Covid-19 in 2020, was hailed as the "Father of Pakistan's Nuclear Program." Meanwhile, for the West, Khan was the mastermind behind the nuclear smuggling network to Iran, Korea, and Pakistan.

Also read: Iran Can Now Make Dozens of Nuclear Bombs

Iran's nuclear facilities are rapidly developing with Khan. Khan's network in the spread of nuclear facilities was revealed in the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) report in 2004.

Foreign Affairs magazine reported that Khan's work for Iran began with high-level lobbying in 1989. Lobbying took place between then-President of Iran Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Benazir Bhutto, who at that time served as Prime Minister of Pakistan.

KOMPAS/LARASWATI ARIADNE ANWAR

Indonesian Ambassador to Iran for the 2012-2018 period Dian Wirengjurit discussed his book entitled Nuclear Politics: Between Humanity and Military Power at Muhammadiyah University Jakarta, Thursday (20/10/2022).

In a four-eyes conversation, according to Bhutto's recollection, Rafsanjani explained that the military leaders of both countries had agreed on a defense pact that included Pakistan's assistance in Iran's nuclear weapon technology.

Dian stated that Western sanctions will not stop Iran's military and will not effectively pacify the turmoil in the Middle East. The fundamental issue that needs to be addressed is resolving the issue of Palestine, Hamas, and Israel. Peace in Palestine will pacify the turmoil and threat of weapons. (AFP/REUTERS/AP)