“The enemies are bent on dealing a blow to the [Islamic] establishment and we will never let this happen through our full military and defensive preparedness,” Iranian Army’s Ground Forces Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said in a Sunday address to Iranian units attending a major maneuver in the central province of Isfahan.

The commander said the Iranian forces’ high capabilities made the United States change its strategies and pursue its objectives by strengthening Takfiri groups which are financially supported by certain regional countries.

Pourdastan said the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces stand by the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) not only inside the country but in its advisory mission in Syria.

“ISIS and Takfiri groups are our small enemies and the US and the Israeli regime are our main enemies,” Pourdastan said.

During the first phase of the two-day exercise codenamed Beit-ul-Muqaddas 28 on Sunday, the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces successfully test-fired domestically-manufactured short-range N-6 and N-10 Naze'at and Fajr 5 rockets.

Long-range artillery of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces also hit predetermined targets during the drill.

In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems.

Iran has also conducted other major military drills to enhance the defense capabilities of its armed forces and to test modern military tactics and state-of-the-art army equipment.

The Islamic Republic maintains that its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.

S/SH 11