TEHRAN – The Iranian president has commended the country’s achievements in advanced and cutting-edge technologies, calling for the enhancement of quality and export of innovative products by knowledge-based companies.

Masoud Pezeshkian made the statement in a visit to the 16th International Nanotechnology Exhibition and the First Up-to-Date Technologies Exhibition at the Tehran International Permanent Fairground on Tuesday.

The president underscored the importance of the profitability of innovative products and their exports, adding that such technologies should be utilized to serve Iranian citizens in underprivileged areas across the country.

“We must take action to improve the quality and export of these technological products, and in addition, in the area of developing medical equity, these products should be used to provide services to citizens in deprived areas of the country,” Pezeshkian said.

His visit comes as Iran has made considerable breakthroughs in a whole range of scientific and technological areas.

‘Iran’s current defense might stronger than during 12-day war’

Meanwhile, the president said elsewhere in a meeting with officials that enemies will receive a crushing response if they make any move against the Islamic Republic.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is, by no means, seeking war and confrontation, but our defense might today is not comparable to that prior to the [Israeli] 12-day imposed war, and if the enemy makes any mistake, it will receive a rapid, crushing and painful response,” said Pezeshkian.

On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that killed at least 1,064 people in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

The United States entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia.

Pezeshkian further touched upon sanctions, calling for closer regional cooperation to counter them.

“In addition to all domestic problems and imbalances, we are facing growing pressure and sanctions too. However, if we tap into the potential of the numerous neighboring countries properly, we can definitely neutralize sanctions and even turn them into serious opportunities to boost regional cooperation and enhance solidarity among regional countries,” he explained.

His remarks come at a time when the West has reinstated illegal sanctions on Iran.The UK, France, and Germany triggered the snapback mechanism on August 28, setting in motion a 30?day process to restore all UN sanctions on Iran.

Despite last?minute efforts by Russia and China to preserve diplomacy, the UN Security Council failed to reach consensus on September 26. Two days later, the E3 and the United States declared the sanctions reinstated and urged UN member states to enforce them.

Tehran has categorically rejected the claim, insisting that it was the United States and its European allies who undermined the 2015 nuclear deal by failing to honor their commitments.

Iranian officials maintain that no UN member state is obliged to comply with the unilateral and unlawful measure.