Bagheri: We Will Not Be Intimidated by Threats to Negotiate Our Missile Capabilities

Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran, emphasized that "the military doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran is a defensive doctrine" and stated, "We will not be intimidated by threats to negotiate our defensive and missile capabilities." On Thursday, February 7, he attended a defense achievements exhibition with foreign ambassadors and military attaches in Iran, adding: "Our message to the arrogant and greedy governments is that we are prepared to defend and counter their various plots." According to the Chief of Staff, "up to 80% of Iran's military and equipment needs in the land, air, missile, naval, and air defense sectors are produced domestically." Bagheri also stressed: "Thanks to divine grace and our defensive, military, and indigenous capabilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran has sufficient control over its borders and will not spare any effort in maintaining security and stability in the region, while being aware of developments in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz." The mention of establishing security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz has been repeated several times by Iranian officials since American officials emphasized that they would not allow the export of Iranian oil; including Hassan Rouhani, the President, who stated that if Iran cannot export oil, no oil will be exported from the Persian Gulf. Iran's missile program and the testing and launching of these missiles in the years following the JCPOA have always been criticized by the US, Israel, and European countries. On Monday, February 4, the European Union expressed its "serious concern" regarding Tehran's ballistic missile activities and urged the Islamic Republic to stop these activities, especially the launching of ballistic missiles. One day after this serious concern was expressed, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a detailed statement emphasizing that such activities are "purely defensive, deterrent, and indigenous." Mike Pompeo stated that Iran is seeking advanced threatening missile capabilities. Recently, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, also said he would not allow Iran to gain access to "intercontinental ballistic missile technology." The Associated Press and NPR reported yesterday that according to a report from Digital Globe, satellite images show that Iran has attempted again to send a satellite into space, although it appears to have had no success in this area. Bagheri also referred to the "long-term economic sanctions over the past 40 years" as one of the important actions of "enemies" against the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Major General Bagheri, "These sanctions have even affected areas such as the purchase and repair of passenger aircraft, as well as pharmaceutical and food sanctions, which are completely unacceptable under international law." American officials have repeatedly stated that drug sanctions are not among the sanctions imposed against Iran, but Iranian officials claim that banking sanctions against Iran have effectively disrupted the import of necessary medicines within Iran. The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran described the new round of US sanctions against Iran as the "most oppressive sanctions" that have been imposed despite the Islamic Republic's "close and convergent interaction" with the international environment and adherence to ethical rules and international principles and completely prudent behavior. Another part of Bagheri's speech referred to Iran's role in Syria and Iraq. According to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran, "the Islamic Republic of Iran was able to break the back of ISIS alongside the armed forces of Iraq and Syria and prevent their advance to other countries, even to Europe." Major General Bagheri emphasized: "The Islamic Republic of Iran mobilized its capacities and capabilities to combat terrorism on the battlefields and to confront the unimaginable crimes of ISIS, and through advisory presence on the battlefields in Iraq and Syria and the sacrifice of martyrs, it provided a great service to the security of the people of West Asia and indeed humanity." Iran's regional presence, especially its actions in Syria, has been a point of criticism from the US and Israel, who are calling for an end to it.