Khamenei: Armed Forces Must Continuously Increase Readiness

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic called on Iran's armed forces to continuously increase their readiness without considering what he termed 'political calculations.' According to the state news agency IRNA, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated on Sunday, December 9, during a meeting with commanders of the Navy of the Army of Iran: 'The lesson from the Holy Quran is that if there is strong faith and a spirit of resistance, even with limited resources and equipment, it is possible to overcome and defeat the enemy.' He added, 'Our armed forces must continuously increase their readiness without considering political calculations and must conduct strategic planning by identifying their gaps and examining the enemy's capabilities and weaknesses.' Khamenei also urged the Navy of the Army of Iran to maintain its role in preserving 'national security' and 'protecting the country's borders' by enhancing its 'up-to-date' military readiness and capabilities. These remarks come as he had previously expressed no opposition to extending nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 countries and emphasized Iran's readiness to accept 'fair and rational agreements,' stating that if these negotiations do not yield results, 'the one who suffers the most will be the United States, not Iran.' Concurrently with Khamenei's remarks on Sunday, Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that the U.S. has removed the military option against Iran from what he called 'illusion and imagination.' According to Fars News Agency, he added, 'The Americans are interested in moving in a diplomatic space with us because they know that if they provoke the Islamic Republic, they cannot safeguard their interests.' Ali Fadavi, commander of the IRGC Navy, had announced in early November the withdrawal of American forces from the Persian Gulf as part of the IRGC's plans. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, also stated on Sunday that Iran's missile capabilities 'are not subject to foreign oversight.' Gholamali Jafarzadeh, a representative from Rasht in the parliament, quoted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday, stating that Iran did not 'allow' the discussion of human rights and its missile program in recent nuclear negotiations. In recent weeks, alongside Iran's nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 countries, media affiliated with the IRGC have published multiple reports on Iran's missile capabilities for 'attacking Israel' and also on missiles that the Islamic Republic has provided to armed groups in Palestine and Lebanon. Khamenei further described the period of peace as a valuable opportunity for 'the armed forces to serve in scientific, construction, and deterrence enhancement sectors.' He added, 'The issue of developing the Makran coasts is also part of these fundamental tasks that should be pursued more rapidly in cooperation with the government.' The Makran coasts are located in southeastern Iran, adjacent to the Sea of Oman, and are part of Sistan and Baluchestan province, which is considered one of the poorest regions in the country. Mohammad Bagheri, an aide to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran, had mentioned on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, regarding the position of the Makran coasts adjacent to international waters: 'From these coasts, we have direct access to international waters without any land barriers on the way to the South Pole, and we can claim sovereignty in part of the South Pole according to international law.' The strengthening of the Iranian Navy's military presence in the Makran coasts and the Indian Ocean dates back to the pre-revolution era, and the plan to complete the vast military complex in Chabahar was implemented in 1973, with Iranian warships also departing from Chabahar base for military operations in Dhofar, Oman, that same year.