Iran plans to increase exports of arms and military equipment to friendly countries 2608132.

"Following coordination with the government's foreign policy, we will make effort to have interaction with the neighboring countries as our top priority and then with other countries in defense fields and we will have some cooperation in different arenas, including exports of defensive products to the different states," Dehqan said.

He pointed to the Iranian government's plans for developing its defensive policy, and said, "We think that the defensive policy can settle a major part of the international problems."

Iran has taken wide strides in designing and manufacturing different types of light, semi-heavy and heavy weapons, military tools and equipment. Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.

In July 2010, a senior Iranian military expert said that the country is exporting arms and military equipment to 40 world states at present.

"Despite 30-year-long sanctions against the defense industries, the Islamic Republic is currently exporting military equipment to 40 countries," General Yadollah Javani told FNA at the time.