Iran's Top Security Official warns to give crushing response to threats

September 21, 2016 - 15:26

TEHRAN- Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani warned enemies to keep distance from the country's borders or wait for a crushing response.

"We have always been and are a peace-seeking nation but this doesn’t mean at all that we tolerate oppression, rather we will respond to any aggression powerfully," Shamkhani said in Tehran on Wednesday.

"We have never intended to make any aggression, but will give a powerful response to any aggressor," he added.

Stressing that Iran doesn’t welcome war, Shamkhani, meantime, said, "But defense is needed under any circumstances."

His remarks came after various units of the Islamic Republic Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Law Enforcement Police and Basij (volunteer) forces staged nationwide parades in Tehran and other cities across the country on Wednesday morning.

In Tehran, the ceremony took place at the mausoleum of the Founder of the Islamic Republic, the Late Imam Khomeini, South of the capital.

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.

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 senior military and government officials, including Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, 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 parades.

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, including the long-range Qadr F missile system with a range of 2,000km, Sejjil missile system with a range of 2,000km, Qadr H missile system with a range of 1,650km, Emad missile system with a range of 1,650km, Qassed smart bombs, Qaem, Nasr, Fakour 90 and a range of air-launched missiles, torpedoes, sea-based and coast-to-sea missiles.

Scores of other new products, including different types of modernized tanks, armors, missile and rocket launchers, electronic, communications and CentCom systems as well as the long-range S-200 and S-300 air defense missile systems, mid-range Shalamche and Mersad missile systems and various naval vessels and coast and sea-based weapons systems went on display in the parades in the Southern port city of Bandar Abbas today.

The most important military product that went into display today was Zolfaqar Multiple Re-entry Vehicle.

The IRGC's Su-22 fighter jets also flew over the nationwide parades' zone in the Southern port city of Bandar Abbas over the Persian Gulf on Wednesday.

Also during the parades, two home-made missile systems, named Khatam 5 and Khatam 7, were unveiled.

The Khatam 5 and 7 missile systems enjoy high mobility and can trace, track and destroy targets with a high level of maneuverability.

The IRGC's recently-unveiled Martyr Nazeri vessel, capable of carrying helicopters and being sent to far-distance missions with no need to refueling, also sailed in Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf during the parades.

Addressing the parades, General Baqeri underlined that the United States' largest military aid package in its history ($3.8bln) to Israel has persuaded Iran to further advance and increase its defense power.

"The criminal (US') move to sign an agreement to present a supportive military package to the Zionist regime is a desperate attempt to protect the security vacuum of the regime and makes us more determined to increase our military power," General Baqeri said.

The top commander stressed that Iran will continue designing and building different defense systems and equipment for the naval, ground and air force units as well as producing different types of missiles, reiterating that the country's military tests and wargames will also continue according to the timeline.

General Baqeri underscored that Iran is precisely monitoring enemies' moves, and said the Armed Forces analyze and foil the regional and trans-regional enemies' moves before hostile actions are taken.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran considers regional security and stability as its own security and doesn’t have any greedy eyes on others' territories and is no threat to any regional state," he added.

(Source: Fars News Agency)