The Iran Project - Iran's defense minister has stated that all Western arms sanctions on Iran will be lifted in the coming weeks, and Iran is prepared to expand its defense and strategic ties with independent countries, particularly Muslim and regional nations.

Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani, in an article published in the Arabic-language Iranian daily al-Vefagh on Tuesday underlined that Iran�s defense policy pursues �peace, friendship, stability and security� with and for all countries.

He highlighted, �Iran's defense ministry within the framework of active defense diplomacy, is ready to establish and expand defense and strategic ties with all independent countries �, especially regional neighbors and Muslim nations based on the principle of collective security, mutual respect and consolidation of peace and stability.�

He went on to say that, �Thus, we today are seriously seeking to expand bilateral and multilateral defense diplomacy and effectively participate in the regional and international security arrangements.�

Ashtiani also noted that many countries are seeking to enhance their defense cooperation with Iran, as the effectiveness of Iran's defense industry has been demonstrated in battlefields, particularly in the fight against terrorism.

In June, Reuters claimed that European officials have told Iran they plan to retain European Union ballistic missile embargoes set to expire in October.

EU ballistic missile sanctions are set to expire on October 18 under a UN resolution that enshrined the 2015 nuclear agreement.