Bagheri: Armed Forces will not tolerate any security, border changes
The General chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces announces naval exercises in the Indian Ocean with Russia and India, calling on Azerbaijan and Armenia to solve disputes through peaceful dialogue.
The General chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, warned Thursday that "the Armed Forces will not tolerate any security and border changes that threaten Iran's interests," stressing that his country will respond "In a destructive manner to enemies if they made any miscalculations with Iran".
At a military parade in Tehran, Bagheri said that, "Iran has many armed capabilities that have not been disclosed so far," noting that, "the presence of Zionists in the Gulf is illegal."
In his speech, he recommended that Azerbaijan and Armenia solve their problems through dialogue and peaceful means, noting that "Iran does not accept any war or change in borders, and will not remain silent about if it happens".
He added, "We expect our neighboring countries in the south of the Persian Gulf to keep an eye on the demonic acts and sedition of the Zionist entity, as its presence in the countries and waters of the Persian Gulf is illegal and destabilizing to the security and stability of the region," adding, "Iran is following and monitoring all the movements of this entity, and in case we sense the presence of any conspiracy or threat targeting us, we will respond firmly at it and its supporters."
In a related context, Mehr news agency quoted Bagheri saying, "exercises with the participation of the Iranian, Russian and Chinese naval forces will be held in the northern part of the Indian Ocean this fall," referring to the participation of Pakistan, Oman and other countries as well.
Read more: Iran launches large-scale military drills across the country
The ground forces of the Iranian army conducted the largest military exercises in its history on September 7th, which lasted for two days, in the city of Nasrabad, Isfahan province, under the title "Eqtedar (Strength) 1401".
Ghalibaf: Threats to Iran will be met with a response
The chairman of the Iranian Shura Council, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, pointed out that "the enemies know that their threat to Iran will be met with a threat, and any action against us will be met with action and response".
"It is Iran's ability that has created this deterrent force, and what we want is to strengthen stability in southwest Asia and the Persian Gulf," Ghalibaf said at the launch ceremony of the Sacred Defense Week in the southern city of Bandar Abbas.
Read more: IRGC Navy adds new defense equipment to its arsenal
"Our logic states that all destabilization of security in our region will end when non-regional powers leave it," the Iranian official said, referring to the ability of Iran and friendly regional countries to resolve their differences and strengthen security in the region.
Earlier, Iran's Revolution Guards announced holding a naval parade in the Gulf on Thurday. The spokesman of the Revolution Guard forces, Brigadier General Ramadan Sharif, said that "the Revolutionary Guard forces will hold a naval parade with the participation of 1,444 boats in Bandar Abbas," according to the Iranian Tasnim agency.
On Wednesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that "the Islamic Revolution was not just a political loss for the forces of arrogance for a certain period of time, but a threat to the system of the Empire."
"One of the achievements of the war was the unity of the Iranian people, the Sacred Defense united the Iranian people," he added.
According to the Iranian designation, the "Sacred Defense" was the war that broke out between Iran and Iraq, from September 1980 until August 1988.
Read more: Arrogant West in decline in region, entire world: Khamenei