Establishment of 'Checkpoint' in Tehran Streets during 'Tharallah Drill'

On Thursday, September 12, the streets and thoroughfares of Tehran province witnessed the establishment of intelligence, operational patrols, and checkpoints on the second day of the 'Tharallah Drill'. According to Fars News Agency, quoting Pasdar Nasser Shabani, the spokesperson for this two-day drill, this phase is the final stage of the 'Tharallah Drill'. 50,000 Basij and Pasdar forces participated in this drill, which aims to 'demonstrate power and unity', 'enhance the level of security and tranquility in society', and 'deter enemies'. Mohammad Kowsari, a representative of Tehran in the parliament and a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated on Tuesday that this drill 'shows the enemies' that the IRGC and Basij will execute the command of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in 'the shortest time'. The leader of the Islamic Republic has repeatedly called on the armed forces to increase their readiness before and after the Vienna nuclear agreement, emphasizing on Tuesday during a meeting with commanders and officials of the Iranian Army's Air Defense Headquarters that they should 'constantly enhance their readiness and options to counter various threats'. However, some critical news and analytical websites, such as 'Saham News', have linked the holding of this drill to internal issues in Iran, including the upcoming elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts. According to Iranian news agencies, Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the IRGC, on Thursday, during a gathering of Basij members present at this drill, referred to the United States as the 'number one enemy of the Iranian nation'. According to this military commander, 'we will cut off any hand that reaches for military options'. Mr. Salami further described the opponents and supporters of the nuclear agreement in the U.S. as 'two blades of a scissors' that, according to him, 'are seeking to be hostile to the Iranian nation and act against the Islamic Revolution'. The IRGC deputy commander stated, 'Whether an agreement is reached or not, we will support oppressed and Muslim nations against U.S. hegemony'. Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, was also among the officials who participated in this drill on Thursday at 'Valayat Park in Tehran'. Mr. Salehi stated, 'It was with the backing of the Basij and the Iranian nation that we were able to stand against global arrogance and impose our demands on them'. The two-day 'Tharallah Drill' was accompanied by widespread and general text messages sent to Tehran citizens, providing information about the drill to mobile phone subscribers. The spokesperson for this drill, in an interview with the newspaper 'Etemad', regarding the sending of these text messages, said, 'We announce a number so that anyone interested and has information can connect with us'. He justified the sending of these text messages by stating, 'During the war, we used the people differently, but now we use information dissemination for sustainable and reassuring security'.