Iran doubles weapons and defence equipment production in one year

Iran doubled its production of weapons and defence equipment over a one-year period, Deputy Defence Minister Reza Talaei-Nik said on Saturday. ‘In the period of one year since the start of the Twelve-Day War, from June last year to June this year, the production of weapons and defence equipment increased twofold,’ Talaei-Nik said, as quoted by the Tasnim news agency.

On the eve of 18 June, Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum to end the conflict that began on 28 February. However, on 8 July, US President Donald Trump announced that the ceasefire was no longer in effect. Since then, US forces have launched a number of attacks against Iran.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the strikes as retaliation for Iran’s actions against commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces subsequently retaliated by launching attacks on US bases in the Middle East.

On 12 July, Iran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until the end of US intervention in the region, following renewed exchanges of fire between the parties to the conflict. A day later, Trump said the US would become the ‘guardian’ of the Strait of Hormuz. He also reimposed a US blockade on Iranian ports.

On Thursday, Trump said Tehran had squandered the opportunity to reach an agreement with Washington. The US then launched a large-scale economic operation against Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the operation as an attempt to divert attention from the crisis facing the US itself, which he said would ultimately lead to an even greater defeat for Washington.