Iran ‘determined’ to boost military after US-Israel deal

During a military parade in Tehran, military hardware including missiles was displayed in the capital.

Abandoning a long-standing reticence, Iranians are increasingly candid about their involvement in Syria’s war, and informal recruiters are now openly calling for volunteers to defend the Islamic Republic and fellow Shiites against Sunni militants. The Tasnim news agency says this long-range missile boast high accuracy and a multiple warhead. A Qadr H missile, with a 2,000 km range, was also featured at the parade. Iran’s ballistic missile program has been criticized by the West, and the US Treasury imposed sanctions on two Iranian companies in March due to their alleged ties to it.

He also accused the USA and Israel of trying to ruin the Middle East, claiming that the “ultimate goal of the United States and the Zionist regime and their supporters in proxy and sedition wars [launched through terrorists] is to destroy the infrastructure of Muslim states”.

Last week the USA signed an unprecedented new security agreement with Israel that will give the Israeli military $38 billion over 10 years.

The chiefs of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, including Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri and various other military general commanders, were in attendance to salute local soldiers and special forces, as well as to observe the display of heavy Iranian and Russian-made artillery.

Tehran has advisers on the ground in Iraq and also in Syria to help the military in both countries battle armed groups fighting the national governments.

Iran also has fraught relations with its Gulf Arab neighbours, particularly Saudi Arabia. The two countries support opposing sides in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen.

More than 500 watercraft as well as fighter jets and helicopters took part in the large-scale military parade in Bandar Abbas, which was held under supervision of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy.