Turkey is using NATO to procure weaponry it wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford, according to an Armenian military expert.

As Artsrun Hovhannisyan told a news conference in Yerevan, “having failed at attempts to gain military independence, Turkey is using NATO financing to obtain weaponry.”

“NATO missile defense system deployment will largely contribute to Ankara’s military might, raising concerns of Iran and Israel,” he said.

Turkey has agreed to deploy an early warning radar system by the end of the year as part of NATO's missile defense program for Europe. It is aimed at countering the threat of missile attacks from Iran.

Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that Iran will not tolerate any aggression against its national interests.

Vahidi said, “we regard the presence of the Americans and the Westerners as troublesome, which would undermine security in Muslim countries and harm their interests.”