IRGC Chief Briefs Iranian MPs on Regional Situation, Future Plans

TEHRAN– Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami briefed Iran’s lawmakers on the latest developments in the region and his plans to strengthen the IRGC.

The new IRGC commander attended a closed-door session of the Parliament on Sunday morning.

In comments after the meeting, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the top commander took the podium to express his views on the future plans to strengthen the IRGC and employ the huge capacities of the Basij (IRGC-affiliated voluntary forces) for improving the country’s internal situation.

Larijani said Major General Salami also provided an analysis of the regional circumstances, and the MPs, too, expressed their views, Tasnim News reported.

Meanwhile, MP Mohammad Javad Abtahi quoted the general as stressing that Iran has never started and does not favor a war.

The IRGC commander also reminded the enemies that if they start a war on Iran, their interests would be at risk and they would not be able to finish that confrontation, the MP added.

Abtahi stated that the general has explained the reasons why the US lacks the courage and power to wage a war against Iran.

After the general’s address, the lawmakers came to the conclusion that Iran enjoys the power to deter the threats and the US move to issue threats is nothing more than a psychological war that needs to be addressed, he added.

In comments last week, a defense adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the US government is neither willing nor able to take any military action against Iran.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has on various occasions reiterated the need for boosting Iran’s military capabilities and defense preparedness.

In November 2018, Ayatollah Khamenei said that Iran’s enhanced military preparedness would frighten the foes and be deterrent against the enemies, underlining, “The Islamic Republic is not intending to begin a war against anyone, but you (the Iranian military forces) should boost your capabilities in such a way that not only the enemy would be fearful and afraid of attacking Iran, but also thanks to the solidarity, might, and effective presence of the Armed Forces, the specter of threats against the Iranian nation would be swept away.”

M.Wassouf