President Rouhani: Iran’s armed forces region’s most powerful against terrorism
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appreciated the country’s Armed Forces’ anti-terrorism efforts and victories, and said they are the terrorists’ biggest enemy.
“Today, we tell the world that the biggest anti-terror and anti-terrorism Armed Forces are the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces,” Rouhani said, addressing the annual nationwide parades at the mausoleum of the Founder of the Islamic Republic, the Late Imam Khomeini, South of Tehran on Tuesday.
The parades mark the start of the Sacred Defense Week, commemorating Iranians’ sacrifices during the 8 years of the Iraqi imposed war on Iran in 1980s.
Stressing that the Iranian Armed Forces are today the first and foremost regional power standing against intimidation and terrorism, he said, “As we have helped the Iraqi and Syrian army and government against terrorism upon their governments’ demand, if God forbid, terrorists want to overrun in other neighboring states, they will also pin hope on Iran’s Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Basij (volunteer) forces.”
Warning the regional states about being fooled by the world powers in fighting against terrorism, Rouhani said, “Those countries which are today oppressing their neighbors inadmissibly should know that if the terrorists want to annihilate them and humiliate their nations, the only Armed Force in the region which is able to uproot the terrorists is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces, (of course) upon a demand by their nations.”
The nationwide parades by various units of the Islamic Republic Army, IRGC, Law Enforcement Police and Basij forces started in Tehran and other cities across the country on Tuesday morning.
Different units of Iran’s military forces marched in uniform before top Army and IRGC commanders in a show of military might and defensive power.
The ceremony was participated by President Rouhani and senior military and government officials as well as foreign diplomats, military attaches and reporters.
Typical units of the Islamic Republic Army, the IRGC, Basij forces and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Law Enforcement Police participated in the parade.
Foreign delegates as well as military and civilian officials were also present in the ceremony. Ranking commanders of the Armed Forces also took part in the ceremony.
The latest military and defense achievements made by Iranian experts were put on display at the parades.
The Iranian Armed Forces have recently test-fired different types of newly-developed missiles and torpedoes and tested a large number of home-made weapons, tools and equipment, including submarines, military ships, artillery, choppers, aircrafts, UAVs and air defense and electronic systems, during massive military drills.
Defense analysts and military observers say that Iran’s wargames and its advancements in weapons production have proved as a deterrent factor.
September 22 is the start of the Sacred Defense Week in Iran which marks the anniversary of the beginning of Iraqi-imposed war against the country in 1980.
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