Iran is fully prepared for any potential future conflict, Chief of Staff of the Iranian army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said on Tuesday, shortly after UN sanctions were reinstated on his country under the so-called snapback mechanism.
Circles in Tehran are concerned Iran and the US Navy could have a faceoff if Iranian vessels are inspected following the activation of the UN snapback sanctions mechanism. They also fear Israel could launch another war with Iran.
During an inspection visit to naval units of both the Army and the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in the southern province of Hormozgan, Mousavi spoke about the significant improvements made in the Navy based on experiences gained during the 12-day short-term conflict with Israel last June.
“In this short period, great work has been carried out in the IRGC Navy,” the Chief of Staff said, according to ISNA.
“During this visit, I observed a combination of faith, motivation, knowledge, experience, and revolutionary spirit, reflecting the IRGC Navy’s full readiness in all defensive and offensive combat areas, fully prepared for any action against the enemy,” Mousavi added.
For his part, former IRGC chief commander Major General Mohsen Rezaei urged media outlets to avoid speculation about the timing of conventional war, stressing that “the war is already ongoing” in the forms of economic sanctions, propaganda, and media assaults.
He denounced recent foreign demands that Iran restrict its missile capabilities to ranges below 400 kilometers, calling such limits unacceptable infringements on national defense.
Addressing decades-long economic pressures on Iran, Rezaei, who is also a member of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, said: “Foreign adversaries have imposed sanctions and hardships on the Iranian people, yet accuse Iran of causing economic suffering.”
Meanwhile, Iran is weighing how to respond to the reimposed UN sanctions over its nuclear program, which came into effect last week.
Parliament would discuss withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty over reimposed UN sanctions, an Iranian lawmaker said.
IRGC official and lawmaker Esmail Kowsari told a state-run channel that “Parliament will discuss this issue ... and decide on it.”
