Iran’s strategic weapons thwart plot to disintegrate region: DM

The Iranian defense minister says the strategic weapons produced by the Islamic Republic and used by resistance forces have prevented a hegemonic plot to disintegrate the region.

“The hegemonic system used all its scientific, financial, and arms capabilities to support terrorists and cause the region to lose its integrity and ensure the Zionist regime’s security,” Brigadier General Amir Hatami said on Saturday.

“However, despite all these efforts, Iran’s strategic weapons used by resistance forces prevented the realization of their objectives,” he added.

“Ultra-regional powers want the Islamic Iran to remain weak and dependent, but we have not only maintained our independence throughout all these years, but have boosted our power as well,” he said.

The defense minister praised the “unmatched and unique” position of the country, and said the enemy’s plot to create a “geopolitical recession” in Iran will never succeed.

Hatami noted that the enemies created terrorist groups in West Asia in order to achieve their goals, but that never came through thanks to Iran’s “strategic presence”.

"That the enemies call for a decrease in Iran’s regional presence is because of conflicting interests pursued by others in this region,” he added.

Sanctions and martyrdom are among the prices Iran is paying for its independence, Hatami said in an address to university students in a ceremony to mark the first anniversary of the martyrdom of Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by the US in early January last year.

“Those behind the assassination of General Soleimani must know it will be avenged; of course the biggest revenge will be the withdrawal of Americans from the region, but those who ordered and executed the assassination will also be punished,” Hatami said in his Saturday remarks.

Some 'inside US' may avenge Trump-authorized Soleimani assassination: IRGC

Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says people inside the US may take revenge for the assassination of Iranian anti-terror commander, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

The martyrdom anniversary of General Soleimani was commemorated in Iran and several other countries including Russia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

On Saturday, Afghan people gathered in Kabul to pay respect to the bravery and the leading role of two resistance leaders, Afghan National Hero Ahmad Shah Massoud and Iran’s top commander Qassem Soleimani, both of whom fought against invading forces and foreign-backed terrorists.

Also in a ceremony held in Moscow, the capital of Russia, hundreds of Iranian expatriates, Russian, Azeri, Afghan, Tajik, and Uzbek military and cultural figures discussed General Soleimani’s position and achievements in fight against international terrorism and neutralizing the inauspicious plots of the US and Israel for the region.

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