IRGC Aerospace Commander Criticizes Rafsanjani's Remarks: 'Have the Courage to Walk Without Guards for a Few Days'

A senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) criticized recent remarks by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who attributed the economic progress of Germany and Japan to their lack of military forces. Amir Ali Hajizadeh stated, 'If they have the courage, let them walk for a few days without guards and then say that the country does not need military power.' He described Japan and Germany as 'defeated' countries and deemed the comparison with Iran as 'wrong.' According to reports from Young Journalists Club, he expressed skepticism about those who claim that without military forces, the situation would be better, questioning their understanding of the issue. Hajizadeh identified the 'lack of political red lines' as one of the country's problems, noting that individuals are willing to say anything and do anything to achieve their political goals. He emphasized the necessity for military advancements in Iran, citing that Saudi Arabia is the fourth-largest country in military spending and that the U.S. has established bases around Iran. His comments were a response to Rafsanjani's statements made on August 20, where he claimed that the strong economies of Germany and Japan were a result of their post-World War II disarmament, which allowed them to invest in scientific and productive endeavors. Rafsanjani expressed hope that Iran could follow a similar path during President Hassan Rouhani's second term. In a tweet earlier this year, Rafsanjani faced criticism from some Iranian officials and media for stating, 'The world of tomorrow is the world of discourse, not missiles.' Among the critics was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, who accused domestic critics of Iran's missile program of 'treason.' Following Khamenei's criticism, Rafsanjani dismissed the attribution of his previous remarks about opposing missile tests as 'completely false,' clarifying that his comments were made seven years ago. In another part of his speech, Hajizadeh accused the U.S. of managing ISIS and claimed that the U.S. is increasing its bases in Iraq under the pretext of combating this group. He also criticized proponents of negotiations with the U.S., stating that 'after the JCPOA agreement, supporters of reconciliation with the U.S. have significantly decreased.'