Increasing Iran's Offensive and Defensive Capabilities

Referring to the self-reliance of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the military field, the Commander-in-Chief of the Army said: "Today, both in the missile and defense fields, we are in a better position and have greater capabilities than during the 12-day Imposed War."

News ID: 87332

Date: 31 January 2026 - 20:10

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Major General Amir Hatami, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, at the 18th The Eminence Ali Akbar (AS) Festival for Young Soldiers of the Armed Forces, which was held this morning (Saturday) hosted by the Army's Air Defense Force at the Almas Complex in Tehran, referring to the Iran's high defense capability, stated: The defensive power of the Islamic Republic of Iran today is an indigenous power that cannot be eradicated.

Major General Hatami emphasized: Today, both in the missile field and in the air defense field, we have a better situation and higher capability compared to the 12-day imposed war.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Army, while appreciating the effective role-playing of soldiers in defending Iran, stated: Today is a blessed day and I am happy that I have been granted the success to be present in this gathering.

He added by saying that today's ceremony is being held during special times: We have passed the 12-day imposed war and after that, we have also constantly been faced with the malice and enmity of the evil enemies of dear Iran, the sacred system of the Islamic Republic, and the great nation of Iran.

Major General Hatami stated: Today, those who have worn the uniform of defending the country, the lives, honor, and property of the people, the Islamic system, national security, and the achievements of the revolution in all armed forces, are respected more specially by the Iranian nation.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Army expressed: The dear people of Iran saw that if our evil enemies find an opportunity, they will exploit it to strike this country, its independence, territorial integrity, the Islamic system, and the nation.

He stated that in the 12-day imposed war we witnessed very important and special points: The enemy had announced programs. These programs were serious programs, First they said they want to completely destroy your nuclear [capabilities]; including our dear scientists, nuclear infrastructures, and all the country's nuclear facilities, then they also said they want to destroy Iran's defense capabilities; they specifically intended to destroy the missile power of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which boter them alot.

Major General Hatami continued: The enemies claimed that they had planned for this for 18 years; but they lied. They had not planned for 18 years, but had planned for nearly 50 years, in fact from the first day of the victory of the revolution when they sanctioned us, they planned to strike Iran, and the first sanctions were also defense and military sanctions against our country.

Iran's nuclear science and technology is not erasable

The Commander-in-Chief of the Army added: Both their calculation was wrong and they made a wrong decision. This is while the valuable assets of the Iranian nation still remain in their place. The nuclear science and technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran is not erasable; even if scientists and children of this nation are martyred, the science and technology exist.

He emphasized: We gained a knowledge in the recent war that is unique; even the country Russia, which is engaged with the collection of NATO countries today, does not have the experience of our 12-day imposed war. We engaged with all the enemy's science and technology and hybrid war, recognized their weaknesses and strengths and our own weaknesses and strengths. Today we have prepared differently.

Major General Hatami continued: Although the enemies martyred our dear commanders, but the powerful and grand Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency Imam Khamenei, immediately appointed new commanders and this had a message for the enemies.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Army stressed: Dear Iran and the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are full of commanders, generals, officers, and soldiers who will defend this country until the last moment; such individuals in the recent war replaced the martyrs and continued the war.

He stated: Contrary to the enemy's imagination that believed in case of an attack on Iran, the people would accompany them, the people defended the country, the territorial integrity of dear Iran, independence, and the system of the Islamic Republic, which itself is the most important guardian of the country's territorial integrity, with all their might; such that the enemy was forced to beg for a ceasefire.

The crushing response of the Iranian nation to the enemy on the January 12

Major General Hatami, referring to the terrorist war of the enemies against the nation of Iran, said: The malice and enmity of the enemies continues. They intended to exploit our internal issues and the thing they thought they could do in the 12-day war with bombing and internal insecurity, they intended to implement its reverse in the month of Dey (first creating disturbance and then military attack); but again they made a mistake.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Army, referring to the enemy's plan for "increasing deaths" in the recent riots and terrorist war, emphasized: The enemy ordered its trained and armed mercenaries to target the nation of Iran by creating conflict and shooting; but our dear people recognized the enemy's plan very quickly. Although on this path, we lost pure and innocent lives and dear martyrs were presented, but the nation of Iran once again on the Januray 12 gave a crushing response to the enemy and showed that with insight, intelligence, and full awareness, it neutralizes conspiracies.

He continued: Today this war still continues and the evil enemy, just as it has designed various programs against the nation of Iran in the past approximately 50 years, still will not sit down. The only way is to make the enemy despair; to let it know that any aggression will be met with a tough response and serious damage. The requirement for this is the unity, cohesion, empathy, and cooperation of all of us.

Major General Hatami, referring to the passionate presence of the people and youth, said: This presence has a clear message for the enemy, that the nation of Iran knows the country has problems, part of these problems is the product of enmities and solving them is upon ourselves; but the account of internal problems is completely separate from the account of the enemy. This passionate presence shows that the people are ready to defend the country.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Army considered cognitive warfare an important part of the enemy's hybrid war and added: The enemy, using virtual space and media, seeks to create a rift in the ranks of the nation and today with impudence, accuses the Islamic Republic; while this is a big lie and part of the enemy's media war. If the enemy is not seeking the disintegration of Iran, why are all its infantry forces, separatist groups in the northwest, southeast, and around the country's borders?

He emphasized: The ultimate intention of the enemy is the disintegration of dear Iran. The history of the past 200 years shows that whenever the ruling system was weak, the country faced disintegration; but the Islamic Republic system is the only system that, despite eight years of imposed war, did not allow single inch of this country's territory to be separated. The enemy is angry at this very reality; because it knows the Islamic Republic is the most important obstacle to Iran's disintegration.

Our finger is on the trigger

Major General Hatami noted: Today, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran are in complete defensive and military readiness, the enemy's movements in the region are being precisely monitored, and our hand is on the trigger. If the enemy makes a mistake, it will undoubtedly endanger its own security, the security of the region, and the security of the Zionist regime.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Army, appreciating the position of neighboring countries regarding America's hostile positions against our country, said: Our neighbors have announced that they will not allow the use of their territory and space against Iran, and this intelligence is worthy of appreciation; because they know that any insecurity against Iran will make the whole region insecure.

He emphasized: The Islamic Republic of Iran is the most peace-seeking system in the region and has never aggressed against any country; but threatening a great nation like Iran is a big mistake. Our self-sacrificing soldiers and war-experienced commanders are ready to respond. If the enemy is seeking to solve the problem, it must treat the great nation of Iran with respect.

Major General Hatami, in conclusion, addressing the soldiers, said: Your presence has a clear message to the people that the armed forces are alongside the nation and will not allow the enemy to disrupt the order of people's lives by creating a murky atmosphere. God willing, we will pass through these conditions with dignity.