Iran’s navy chief said the country has strengthened its defence industry despite years of sanctions and external pressure. Speaking on National Defence Industry Day, he said Iran chose to rely on domestic capabilities, internal knowledge and national will to build an industry that has become a major foundation of national security and strength. The remarks were reported by Iran’s Mehr news agency and carried by Al Jazeera on August 22, 2026.

The navy chief said Iran had developed its indigenous defence capabilities under prolonged restrictions, increasing self-reliance in the defence sector. He described domestic defence capacity as playing a decisive role in maintaining the balance of power and said it had also enhanced Iran’s offensive capabilities.

He further claimed that these capabilities had helped thwart objectives set by Iran’s adversaries. According to his statement, the continued development of the defence industry through reliance on domestic knowledge and capacity has further strengthened Iran’s national security despite sanctions and outside pressure.