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Iran sends 'messages to friends, foes' on National Army Day

Monday, 18 April 2022 12:45 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 18 April 2022 12:45 PM ]

Yusef Jalali
Press TV, Tehran

Heavy stomps of marching soldiers and convoys of Iranian-made weapons paraded in Tehran and across the country on the national army day.

All of the four branches of the military took part in the key parade, held at the presence of army officials and Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi.

Addressing the ceremony, the president hailed the army's achievements despite the US sanctions.

The parade featured the latest military achievements and weapons systems produced by the Iranian army, including radars, tanks, armored vehicles, drones, fighter jets and missiles. The highlights among the military hardware were Fat'h 360 surface-to-surface missile, Labayk precision-strike rockets and Dezfoul and Majid air defense systems.

The Islamic Republic says it produces over 80 percent of its needed military hardware indigenously.

The Iranian president said in his address to the parade that the country's show of power sends messages both to friends and enemies.

The national army day was designated in 1980 following a historic speech by late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini. There, he thanked the army for its role in the victory of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, by announcing neutrality in the conflict between the former Pahlavi regime and the revolutionaries.

Four decades of arms embargoes have denied Iran access to even a bullet from other countries.

The Iranians army says the parade today shows that those bans have not harmed Iran's military capability, but in fact, they have been a blessing, since Iran's security is no longer tied to foreign arms.

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