Iran ready to counter any threats: IRGC

Press TV - Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps says the IRGC and Basij forces are ready to counter any threat against the country by learning from past experiences, Press TV reports.

Addressing the Imam Ali Basij battalions during military drills on Friday, Maj. Gen. Mohammad-Ali Jafari said military drills staged by the IRGC and Basij aimed to improve coordination among Iran's defense systems and identify weaknesses and strengths. 

“Our [military] forces are more than ever ready to defend the country against all internal or external threats by using modern military warfare, missiles and air defense systems,” a Press TV correspondent quoted him as saying. 

Reflecting on recent political developments in Arab countries and North Africa, the Iranian commander said popular uprisings in the Arab world heralded the beginning of a new era in both regions. 

“They [Western states] have acknowledged that Iran is a role model for other countries. Iran recently held an international conference on Islamic Awakening which aimed at exchanging views and sharing experiences with other Muslim nations,” he said. 

The IRGC commander then refuted allegations that the United States and Israel are behind current regional developments or that they are able to attack Iran. 

“Attacking Iran is just propaganda as they are at their worst, both economically and politically. They claim that Iran is weak and unable to defend itself in order to cover up popular protests in the US and Europe and even Israel,” he noted. 

Some 31,000 Basij forces from Imam Ali battalions took part in military drills on Friday aimed at increasing the forces preparedness to counter domestic security threats. 

The drills were attended by IRGC commander; lawmaker Mohammad Kowsari, and a group of other senior IRGC commanders.