‘Iran fully prepared to counter threats’

A top Iranian Army commander says Iran’s military forces are fully ready to defend the Islamic Republic and counter possible threats posed by state enemies.

Today, Iran’s Armed Forces, including the Army and the Islamic Republic Guards Corps, are fully prepared and enjoy great capabilities to defend the country against possible threats through their unity and coherence, said Iran’s Commander of the Ground Forces Brigadier-General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan on Thursday.

He added that Iran is making great progress in production of domestically-built military equipment, IRNA reported.

In recent years, Iran has made important breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly assured that its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that Tehran’s defense doctrine is based on deterrence only.

The Iranian commander further stated that the US has dispatched troops to Iraq and Afghanistan apparently with the purpose of dominating energy resources of the region.

However, it also pursues a covert objective, he said, adding Washington aims to block the spread of the Islamic Awakening in the region.

Pourdastan noted that the US caused the September 11 events because it sought a pretext to block the Islamic Awakening in the region and throughout the world. It introduced Muslims as terrorists.

Despite its efforts, the US failed to obtain its hostile objectives as we are witnessing the sweeping wave of popular uprisings in Muslim countries, he added.

The senior commander reiterated that the US and its allies sustained heavy damage and are suffering “inappropriate” situation in regional countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan.