Stern Warning from Armed Forces Spokesperson to Aggressors; New Military Technologies on the Horizon
According to news reports, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, Senior Spokesperson for the Armed Forces, spoke during a special news program on Saturday evening. While honoring the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution, he detailed the transformation and self-sufficiency within the country’s defense infrastructure. Referring to the growing trends in missile and aerial deterrence, he stated: “Iran’s missiles and drones have become more advanced and powerful, and the Armed Forces have prepared ‘surprises’ for the aggressor enemy; therefore, any miscalculation will be met with a response utilizing new military technologies.”
Emphasizing that the fundamental principle in the Armed Forces’ doctrine is intelligence protection to maintain the element of surprise, he added that enemies have realized their strategic miscalculations in assessing Iran’s defensive resilience and national power, and the Islamic Republic will not retreat an inch in the face of enemy aggression.
From Barbed Wire Embargoes to Complete Military and Missile Self-Sufficiency
Analyzing the experiences of the eight-year Sacred Defense, the Senior Spokesperson for the Armed Forces stated: “At the beginning of the imposed war, global arrogance even refused to sell us surgical thread and barbed wire; however, our combatants started the path of scientific and technological defense leaps from those very embargoed foundations. The turning point of this path was the inception of the missile industry, which, through the efforts of the martyred General Hassan Tehrani-Moghaddam, turned into complete self-sufficiency and a balance of terror against our enemies.”
Comparing the defense structure of the past and present, Brigadier General Shekarchi emphasized: “After the departure of American advisors, the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran was rebuilt by relying on ideologically committed commanders. Alongside the establishment of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the organization of the unparalleled capacity of popular mobilization (Basij), an authority was formed that today places the country among the most advanced military powers in the world.”
Superiority of Asymmetric Warfare Doctrine over Conventional Heavy Equipment
The Deputy for Cultural and Defense Propaganda of the General Staff of the Armed Forces described the fundamental change in the country’s military doctrine as the result of transitioning from classical warfare to “asymmetric warfare,” stating:
“Asymmetric tactics have proven that classical combat methods are fragile. In asymmetric doctrine, one can ground the most expensive modern equipment of arrogant armies with reasonable costs and agile, targeted assets—a tactic that has reached the peak of effectiveness in Iran by combining faith, sacrifice, and indigenous technologies.”
Decisive Naval Sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and Advice to Neighbors
In another part of this interview, Brigadier General Shekarchi addressed the strategic status of the Persian Gulf waterways, stating: “Management of the Strait of Hormuz is under the complete control of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and any vessel transiting outside of established regulations and legal routes will have no security. The United States military should dream about interfering in the Strait of Hormuz, and in the event of any mischief, it will receive a heavy blow.”
Describing the fate of foreign presence in the Middle East, he added: “The Americans have no prospect other than leaving the West Asia region, and their early withdrawal would mean reducing their own costs and losses; because with the departure of the occupiers, sustainable security will return to the region.”
Concluding, the Senior Spokesperson for the Armed Forces addressed relations with regional countries: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has never targeted the sovereignty of neighboring Muslim countries, and all deterrent actions have been directed straight at the bases and interests of American aggressors. Our recommendation to regional governments is to rely on indigenous capabilities and regional convergence, because Washington will never be a secure refuge.”