‘Islamic Iran pursues deterrent defense strategy’

A senior military official has underscored the deterrent nature of Iran’s military might, saying the country’s prowess has turned it into a key player in the regional developments.

“The might of the Islamic Republic of Iran has compelled the enemies to confess that without taking into account Iran’s role and status the management of the developments in the Middle East and North Africa is impossible,” IRNA quoted Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi as saying on Thursday.

“Iran’s Armed Forces pursues a defensive and deterrent strategy and Iran has no intentions to invade any country in the world,” he added.

Firouzabadi, who was speaking during a ceremony to mark the 31st anniversary of the beginning of eight-year defense against Iraq’s invasion of Iran, said that during the war the superpowers, the UN Security Council, and some countries had formed an “ominous” front against Iran.

“The Iranian nation’s stiff resistance during the eight-year defense was established as an enduring blue print for the world,” he said.

The senior military official said that today Palestine, Lebanon and countries all across the Muslim world are witnesses of the upshots of this resistance.

“These nations have shown that it’s possible to overcome the armed-to-the-teeth Zionist regime and to shatter the fallacious dominance of this regime and the US,” he said.