Tehran says has fewer arms buyers

Iran Times International July 30, 2010:The Islamic Republic may not know it, but it is say- ing that its program to export Iranian-made weapons abroad is rapidly losing customers. Several years ago, a military officer claimed that Iran was selling its weapons to more than 100 countries, or half of all the countries in the world. That was not a very believable number given that even the United States only exported to 109 counties in 2007. Then along came UN Security Council Resolution 1747 of March 24, 2007. It decreed that Iran must not “supply, sell or transfer directly or indirectly any arms or related material.” Shortly after that ban was imposed, then Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar proclaimed that Iran’s military goods were so superior that they were being exported to 50 countries, a claim that most doubted. Najjar didn’t seem to realize he was halving the claim earlier made. Last September, Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi boasted, “Despite sanctions imposed on the country, the defense sector has seen its exports increase by 1 1/2 times.” He gave no time period. On Saturday, Gen. Yadollah Javani told the Fars news agency, “Despite 30 years of sanctions against defense industries, the Islamic Republic is now exporting military equipment to 40 countries.” He did not mention that, if that number is true, it is a 20 percent drop in three years. However, it would be hard to find a defense analyst who believes the 40-country figure, let alone the 50-country claim or the 100-country assertion.

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