Imam Khamenei’s Military Advisor Hails Iranian Scientists’ Progress in Defending the Nation against Possible Wars

By Staff, Agencies

Top military Aide to Leader of the Islamic Revolution His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, hailed on Sunday the Iranian scientists’ efforts in the defense sector, stressing that they have made considerable progress in the field of chemical elements, as well as other defensive aspects, through the past years, to remove the specter of war from the country.

Major General Safavi made his comments on the sidelines of a national conference on passive defense against chemical weapons.

“We have carried out significant researches and have had breakthroughs in the microbial, biological and chemical fields,” Safavi added.

On June 28, 1987, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein used the chemical weapons made by Western countries against civilians of Sardasht, northwest of Iran, to make the Islamic Republic the first victim of chemical weapons.

As a result of this war crime, some 130 out of 12,000 people residing in Sardasht lost their lives while more than 8,000 others suffered injuries. Although 33 years have passed since the attack, people are still suffering from its consequences.

The chemicals, provided by Western states, had a long-term chronic effect, especially on children for years to come.

Germany, Italy, the UK, the US, the Netherlands, and several other countries provided Saddam with the equipment and material to build chemical weapons apparently because they didn’t want Iran to be the winner of the eight-year war.

What adds insult to the injury of those residing in the region is the fact that the international communities, even the United Nations, never condemned this heinous crime against humanity.

In tribute to the victims, June 28 has been designated as the International Day of Countering the Convention Prohibiting Chemical Weapons.