A Ghader missile is launched by Iran. (AP/ISNA, Amir Kholousi)

The Islamic Republic has launched a new program to develop explosives with greater destructive and penetration power, which will be used in its rapidly developing weapons program.

Iran’s Tasnim news reported that a factory was opened in Tehran on Wednesday for the mass-production of HMX (Octogen) explosives, which are used to increase the efficiency of different missiles and air defense weapons.

Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan was present at the ceremony.

“Concurrently with its efforts to increase the precision-striking power of its weapons systems, the defense ministry has also paid attention to boosting the destructive and penetration power of different weapons’ warheads and has put on its agenda the acquisition of the technical know-how to produce Octogen explosive materials and Octogen-based weapons,” Iran’s Fars news quoted him as saying .

The Iranian defense ministry has in past years focused on the strength and penetration of warheads in different weapons, Tasnim reported.

HMX (Octogen) is a powerful and relatively non-sensitive nitrosamine high explosive that is used almost exclusively in military applications, including as a solid rocket propellant. It is usually used in different missiles and enhances their effectiveness and efficiency.

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan. (Fars news)

Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made headway in manufacturing a broad range of domestically produced weapons, making Iran partially self-sufficient in the arms-production sphere.

It recently test-fired its new Emad mid-range missile, in breach of UN Security Council resolutions.

The US and its allies have demanded that the UNSC take punitive action against Iran, and the US has labeled Iran’s actions as “provocative” and destabilizing to the already volatile Middle East, but Iran has dismissed Western calls to cease with its weapons production program, and has vowed to pursue with it.