Joshan missile vessel of Iranian Navy arrives at Baku port, Azerbaijan, on Oct. 19, 2016. (Xinhua/Tofik Babayev)

 
An Iranian defense official says Iran Navy's destroyers will be equipped with vertical-launch cruise missiles, saying U.S. sanctions can't hinder Iran's defense development.

Iran Navy's destroyers will be equipped with vertical-launch cruise missiles, an official in Iran's Defense Ministry announced on Thursday.

Amir Rastegari, the chief of Marine Industries Organization of Iran Army, highlighted Iran's progress in manufacturing destroyers and submarines, saying that Iran Navy plans to mount long-range vertical-launch cruise missiles on the destroyers, according to Tasnim news agency.

He also announced the country's readiness to export various types of military equipment to other countries.

Abolfazl Sepehri Rad, the lieutenant commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base, said Tuesday Iran had received purchase requests for indigenous air defense equipment from some friendly countries.

Iranian officials have stressed that the U.S. sanctions on Iran have not been able to hinder the development of the country's defense programs.