Army Chief: Iran Avoiding War, But Ready for Counteraction


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran is not looking for an escalation of military tensions with the adversaries, but stands firm against any act of aggression, Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said.

During a visit to the Army’s command and control center of operations on Thursday, General Mousavi called on the Army forces to constantly maintain preparedness and vigilances in the face of threats.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is not looking for the spread of war, however, it will respond to any aggression more crushingly than before in the war of wills,” the senior general said, referring to Iran’s recent retaliatory operation against Israel, dubbed Operation True Promise.

Hailing the operation as a beautiful manifestation of unity and coordination among the Iranian Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and the Defense Ministry, he said Iran’s deterrent power in the punitive mission startled the enemies.

In a meeting with top military commanders on April 21, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei admired the Iranian Armed Forces for manifesting the country’s power and determination in the international arena by conducting the recent operation against the Israeli regime.

In the early hours of April 14, the IRGC Aerospace Force launched a wave of cruise and ballistic missiles and drones against military targets in the occupied territories in retaliation for the Israeli regime’s April 1 airstrike that killed seven Iranian military commanders and advisers in Syria.