Khamenei Calls for Maximum Military Strength to 'Intimidate the Enemy'

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, at a military ceremony, considered the situations in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon as examples of what he called 'the failure of American conspiracies in the region.' He did not mention Yemen but described the conditions in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon as 'signs of God's power and the truth of divine promises.' According to the IRNA news agency, Khamenei made these remarks on Sunday, September 9, during a ceremony at the Navy University of Sciences in Nowshahr. He further called for the maximum military strengthening of the Islamic Republic, stating that 'according to a noble verse of the Quran, whatever you can do to increase your power will frighten your enemy and compel them to retreat.' On Friday, September 7, Khamenei had referred to Syria as 'a successful example of containing America' during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that 'the Americans have suffered a real defeat in Syria and have not achieved their goals.' Iranian officials have referred to Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and some other countries, including Yemen, as the 'strategic depth' of the Islamic Republic. However, Vladimir Putin stated in a meeting with Bashar al-Assad earlier this year that foreign military forces should leave Syria during the peace establishment phase. Following that, Alexander Lavrentiev, Putin's envoy for Syria, emphasized that this warning also includes Iranian forces and Hezbollah. Meanwhile, in the recent parliamentary elections in Iraq, Iran's influence has diminished, and Muqtada al-Sadr, the election winner, is seeking to ally with groups that are distanced from Iran. Additionally, an unnamed senior Israeli military official stated on Tuesday, September 4, that Israel has attacked targets primarily belonging to the Islamic Republic in Syria over 200 times in the past 18 months. On Sunday, Khamenei also called for 'increasing initiatives, readiness, and capabilities' of the armed forces in 'scientific, organizational, and combat fields' and referenced a Quranic verse that instructs Muslims to 'increase your power to frighten your enemy and compel them to retreat.' A week earlier, Khamenei had stated that from a 'political' perspective, the possibility of war 'does not exist,' but armed forces must enhance their capabilities. On August 13, he referred to the remarks of American officials, saying, 'Americans have recently spoken shamelessly about us. Besides sanctions, they mention two other things; one is the issue of war and the other is negotiation. They bring up the specter of war to scare the timid. In the matter of negotiation, they are playing a trivial game.' The President and military commanders of Iran have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to renewed American sanctions. However, Admiral John Richardson, the operational commander of the U.S. Navy, warned Iran that the United States will maintain the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by any means necessary.