IRGC to work with Defense Ministry to enhance missile power, says top commander

Head of the Aerospace Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the force plans to boost cooperation with the Defense Ministry to enhance Iran's missile power.

Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh made the remarks in a meeting with newly-appointed Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, Fars news agency reported on Saturday.

Hajizadeh stressed the need for further cooperation. He said the Defense Ministry can play an effective and decisive role in enhancing the defense power of the IRGC’s aerospace force.

"God willing, cooperation in the field of upgrading the IRGC missile power will be expanded during the new term of the Defense Ministry."

General Ashtiani, for his part, expressed his ministry’s readiness to interact and cooperate closely with the IRGC’s aerospace force.

"With the extensive industrial and production capacities and platforms in the Ministry, we will be able to take big steps toward providing and meeting the defense and military needs of the Armed Forces, especially the IRGC’s aerospace force,” he said.  

Last week, Iran’s Air Defense Force successfully tested a new generation of the domestically-manufactured Mersad-16 missile system in the country’s central desert.

Iran successfully tests new generation of Mersad missile system

Iran’s Air Defense Force successfully tests the domestically-manufactured Mersad-16 missile system at the country’s central desert.

Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great progress in indigenously developing a broad range of equipment, making the Armed Forces self-sufficient in this regard.

Officials have repeatedly stressed that the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to build up its defense capabilities, emphasizing that such abilities are entirely meant for the purpose of defense and will never be subject to negotiations.

On Friday, IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami also met General Ashtiani and discussed regional issues with the newly-appointed defense minister.

Salami pointed to the enemies' attempts to exert pressure on the Iranian nation through persistence on their enmity, stressing that the effort should be dealt prudently.

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The commander of the IRGC says Iranian borders enjoy full security in the hands of the country’s armed forces.

“The enemies of the Islamic Revolution and the Iranian nation have not spared any threat and machination to pressure the Islamic establishment and the Iranian nation, and despite their failures over the past four decades, they insist on continuing their enmity and malice,” Salami said.

"Each day, they unveil their deep animosity with special complexities and intricacies that need to be dealt with with maximum wisdom and insight," he added.

Salami also underlined the need for using modern and strategic systems and equipment to deepen and develop Iran's defense capabilities and meet the needs of the Armed Forces, especially those of the IRGC.

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