Iran must always be prepared for defense: Leader

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has condemned the “shameless” military threats against the Islamic Republic, saying the country must always be ready to defend itself.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the comments in a Sunday address to a group of senior Army commanders in Tehran on the occasion of National Army Day.

The Leader praised the performance of the Iranian Army throughout the history of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, saying the defense achievements of the Armed Forces are among the country's best in the field of research and technology.  

Ayatollah Khamenei said Iranians have proved that they can strongly protect the country and stand against the aggressors “like a tight fist,” praising the “integrity” of the Iranian nation in the face of threats.

“Iran has never been and will not be a threat to regional and neighboring countries, but it will act with full force in the face of any threat,” said the Leader.

The Leader further rejected the allegations that Iran interferes in the affairs of regional states, stressing that such claims and media propaganda are “unreal.”

“We despise those who attack civilians, women and children and believe that they are ignorant about Islam and human conscience, but we do not meddle in the affairs of countries,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.

Ayatollah Khamenei further pointed to the “shameless” threats of the Americans against Iran, saying the US officials, on the one hand,“bluff” that they may take military action against Iran, and on the other hand, urge the Islamic Republic to stop the progress in its defense sector.

The Leader described the Iranian nuclear issue as a “fake myth” that has been devised by the United States to portray the Islamic Republic as a threat.

The chairman of the US military’s joint chiefs of staff recently repeated the US military threats against Iran over its nuclear program. On April 16, Gen. Martin Dempsey said that the US “military option” against Iran is “intact.”

Ayatollah Khamenei said it is the United States, and not Iran, that is freely posing security threats and interferes in the affairs of others.

The Leader described the United States and the Zionist regime as “the greatest threats to the region and the world,” saying that they “interfere in any location and trigger a carnage without any restraint and without any commitment to religious and conscientious principles.” 

The Leader also called on the Defense Ministry as well as all Armed Forces to continue to boost their spiritual preparedness in the face of enemy threats, adding, “This is akin to a formal guideline.”

“Despite strengthening its defense and military capabilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran will never be a threat to regional and neighboring states,” the Leader said.

MKA/HMV

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