Iran marks Armed Forces Day

TEHRAN,Apr.19(MNA) – Iran commemorated National Armed Forces Day on Friday at a ceremony attended by President Hassan Rouhani and a number of high-ranking military officials. In the ceremony, which took place near the mausoleum of the late Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, thousands of troops held a military parade in which military vehicles and equipment were also put on display. Addressing the military personnel, Rouhani said, “We have told the world that we do not support any aggression and war,” adding, “We have announced that we support logic and dialogue. We do not invade any country and will deal firmly with any aggression.” Elsewhere in his remarks, the president said that the Iranian military forces are an “anchor of stability” in the crisis-hit Middle East. “Our neighbors should be aware that our military forces support the stability of the region,” he said. Military equipment on display Pieces of military hardware, upgraded battle tanks, and the country’s new defense achievements, including the Arash radar system, the Qader missile launcher, the Shalamcheh missile, the Akhgar machine gun, and the Moharram gun, went on display in the military parade. In addition, a number of helicopters and fighter jets made an overflight and airborne forces did parachute jumps. On the sidelines of the ceremony, Army Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said that in view of the fact that Iran possesses advanced military equipment and technologies, it is able to efficiently deal with threats and display its might. Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, the commander of the Iranian Navy, also announced that a new domestically manufactured submarine, named the Fateh, will be unveiled during the current Iranian calendar year, which started on March 21.