Khamenei to Iran's Armed Forces: Don’t Settle for Any Level of Power

A picture published by Khamenei's website from his meeting with senior commanders of the armed forces in Tehran on Sunday.
A picture published by Khamenei's website from his meeting with senior commanders of the armed forces in Tehran on Sunday.
TT

Khamenei to Iran's Armed Forces: Don’t Settle for Any Level of Power

A picture published by Khamenei's website from his meeting with senior commanders of the armed forces in Tehran on Sunday.
A picture published by Khamenei's website from his meeting with senior commanders of the armed forces in Tehran on Sunday.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on the armed forces commanders to move forward in deterring the enemies and not to settle for any level of power.

Hinting at the protests taking place in the country since September, Khamenei stressed that the armed forces should be prepared and vigilant against plotters, reported Iran’s official news agency IRNA.

“Arrogant powers are waging a conflict from behind the scenes wherever it benefits them,” he said.

He added: “Paying close attention to the enemy's five- or ten-year schemes is necessary, but mid- and long-term plots should be considered and monitored.”

He stated: “The Americans had interests in Iraq and Afghanistan, but their ultimate goal was Iran, and due to the solid foundations of the revolution, they failed in their adventures as well as their ultimate goal.”

“At no stage should one ignore the enemy's machinations and plots.”

Iranian cities are preparing for a military parade on Tuesday marking Army Day.

Commander of the Air Force Hamid Vahedi said more than 40 fighter jets are set to fly in the skies over the capital Tehran, according to IRNA.

“The parade on 29th of Farvardin (April 18) will be different this year than previous ones,” he said, saying Iran boasts more than 40 types of jets, including the Saeqa, Kosar, F5, F4, F14, F7, MiG-29, Sukhoi-24.

He added that improving the expertise of pilots, evaluating the level of readiness of units, and ensuring the protection of the borders are among the other goals of the aerial parade.



Rutte: NATO Agrees Protecting Ukraine Infrastructure is Priority

Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (L) talks with Danish's Foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (C) and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte (R) during a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Oganization) Foreign Ministers' meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, on December 4, 2024. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)
Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (L) talks with Danish's Foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (C) and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte (R) during a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Oganization) Foreign Ministers' meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, on December 4, 2024. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)
TT

Rutte: NATO Agrees Protecting Ukraine Infrastructure is Priority

Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (L) talks with Danish's Foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (C) and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte (R) during a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Oganization) Foreign Ministers' meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, on December 4, 2024. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)
Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (L) talks with Danish's Foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (C) and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte (R) during a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Oganization) Foreign Ministers' meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, on December 4, 2024. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP)

NATO members agreed at a meeting with Ukraine's foreign minister on Tuesday evening that providing air defense systems to protect the country's infrastructure against Russian attacks has to be a priority, alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
"There was a clear agreement around the table last night that to help Ukraine, particularly with its infrastructure, has to be a priority," Rutte told reporters on Wednesday.
"I'm confident that allies will follow up in the coming days and weeks in making sure that whatever they can supply to Ukraine will be supplied."

Ukraine's air force said on Wednesday that Russia launched 50 drones to attack the country overnight.

The air force said it shot down 29 of them, lost track of 18, likely due to electronic warfare, and one drone headed towards territories occupied by Russia.

Meanwhile, advisers to Donald Trump publicly and privately are floating proposals to end the Ukraine war that would cede large parts of the country to Russia for the foreseeable future, according to a Reuters analysis of their statements and interviews with several people close to the US president-elect.
The proposals by three key advisers, including Trump's incoming Russia-Ukraine envoy, retired Army Lieutenant-General Keith Kellogg, share some elements, including taking NATO membership for Ukraine off the table.
Trump's advisers would try forcing Moscow and Kyiv into negotiations with carrots and sticks, including halting military aid to Kyiv unless it agrees to talk but boosting assistance if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses.