TEHRAN (FNA)- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Major General Qassem Soleimani reiterated Iran’s call for supplying the Palestinian Resistance Movement of Hamas and its affiliated brigades with more weapons to defend their nation and territories against the Israeli army.
The Iranian commander underlined that confronting the Zionist enemy is a necessity, and expressed hope that the Palestinian resistance movement would turn land and sky into hell for the Zionists soon through its massive defensive operations.
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Major General Qassem Soleimani
He further rooted out the issue of preventing the Palestinians from receiving weapons and ammunitions, and said, “Disarmament of resistance is daydream that will only come true in the graveyard (for the Zionists).”
Earlier, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei strongly condemned the recent Israeli attacks on the Palestinians, and underlined that Palestinians should continue their armed struggle against Tel Aviv.
The armed resistance by the Palestinians is the only way to confront Israel,” Ayatollah Khamenei underscored.
The Iranian Supreme Leader noted that criminal acts of wolfish, child-killer Zionist regime in Gaza have revealed its true nature, and said, “Only way to solve this problem is full annihilation and destruction of the Zionist regime.
Israel has been pounding the blockaded Gaza for 24 consecutive days, killing at least 1,360 people and injuring more than 7,600 others.
Israelnationalnews – Iranian officials are closely studying the progress of Operation Protective Edge, in light of concern over Israel airstrikes on its nuclear facilities and its ongoing quest to destroy Israel.
Hossein Salami G’anshin, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, said in this context that the war in Gaza is an introduction prior to the collapse of Israel, noting that Hezbollah has become a very powerful factor that can launch missiles “non-stop” on all the cities of Israel.
Hezbollah Military Troops
The Naval commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Ali Fadawi, said at a meeting with senior officers that following the war, the Iranian army should place emphasis on strengthening deterrence and defense capabilities in order to bring down Israel.
According to Fadawi, the Iranian army closely monitors the IDF’s activities and is engaged in the development of plans for the protection of Iranian assets in accordance with Israeli “threats” and the different possible scenarios.
Fadawi added that the information gathered from the “enemy” for the Iranian army is one of the factors helping build Tehran’s deterrence and towards realizing the capabilities of Iran.
Iran recently stated that it provided “rocket technology” to Hamas before the current conflict, denying that it provided the actual rockets but claiming it provided data and research.
Iran has provided Hamas and Islamic Jihad with long-range missiles such as the Fajr-5 and M302.
Earlier this year, Israeli naval commandos seized the Klos C ship, and discovered weapons including long-range rockets destined for terrorist groups in Gaza.
Despite its active role in providing the rockets raining down on Israeli population centers, Iran condemned the IDF operation aiming to stop the rockets as “savage aggression” earlier this month.
Iran has also been explicitly linked with Hezbollah and has been accused of using the group to further its aims in war-torn Syria.
NCRI– The International Airport in Tehran has been turned to a hub for arms shipments to the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the Hezbollah in Lebanon and other militant groups in the Middle East and the Arab world by the Iranian regime’s terrorist Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), according to the information by Western intelligence, a German daily reported.
The Quds Force has taken an entire hangar in the cargo area in the east of the airport site for these purposes. The block-shaped hangar that was operated until about two years ago by Iran Air, is now to serve the as a logistics center and weapons storage a Western diplomat with access to the intelligence information has told the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The sources said last May a explosion at the airport that wounded two IRGC guards happened during the transfer of mortar ammunition.
The Iranian regime has been long using civilian airport and civil flights to smuggle weapons.
These action not only violates UN Security Council resolutions, but also the International Civil Aviation Organization agreement, to which Iran is a signatory.
A political official in Hamas confirmed to Al-Monitor that Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas’ politburo, has recently received phone calls from Tehran initiated by Ali Larijani, chairman of the Shura Council, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and a senior Revolutionary Guard officer whose name he did not mention.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah called Meshaal on July 20. This was the first official contact between Hezbollah and Hamas since April, a Hamas official informed Al-Monitor.
Hezbollah’s official website reported that, during his phone call with Meshaal, “Nasrallah praised the steadfastness of the resistance fighters in Gaza,” stressing that he “stands next to the Palestinian resistance and supports its conditions to end the battle.”
Al-Monitor contacted a Palestinian official in Lebanon who mediated Hamas’ troubled relationship with Hezbollah, who said, “It is no secret that the relationship between the officials has not been great because of the crisis in Syria. But Iran contacting Meshaal through the head of the Shura Council Ali Larijani, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and a senior Revolutionary Guard officer on July 7 encouraged Nasrallah to call Meshaal despite the Syrian boycott of Hamas. Therefore, Nasrallah contacting Meshaal has not had positive echoes in Damascus.”
The Palestinian official in Lebanon was probably alluding to the accusations of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against Hamas on July 16, when Assad commented on the Gaza war and urged “the distinction between real resistance fighters, which we support, and amateurs who wear the mask of resistance according to their interests in order to improve their image or to consecrate their authority,” referring to the Hamas leadership.
Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas flag
A Hezbollah media official told Al-Monitor via phone from Beirut, “Syria has reasons that led it to have a rigid position when considering any reconciliation with Hamas, but we are confident that the Iranian diplomacy can find a formula between the two sides.”
Sources from Hamas and Hezbollah revealed that there were attempts made in the last couple of months — before the Gaza war — to restore the axis of resistance and restore communication between Hamas and the Syrian regime. However, these attempts failed as the conditions were not ripe.
A former member of the Iranian Shura Council and close associate of the decision-making circles in Tehran told Al-Monitor by phone, “Iran and Hezbollah’s contacts with Hamas did not find positive echoes in Syria, as Assad ‘vetoes’ the return of Hamas to the axis, which includes Damascus, Tehran and Beirut. However, Iran cannot remain idle as war rages in Gaza, while Hamas has made a remarkable military effort. Although Iran was absent from the current military scene — despite the training it offered — it wants to keep up with the political and diplomatic developments, even if this was to anger the Syrian president.”
In response to a question by Al-Monitor about whether Meshaal may be invited to visit Lebanon soon and meet with Nasrallah, he said, “The party welcomes every ally and opens its doors to everyone. The Gaza war will have a major role in warming the relations between Hamas and Hezbollah, including providing assistance and support in all required fields.”
Hassan Nasrallah – called Meshaal
The same Iranian source told Al-Monitor, “The Gaza war was a suitable opportunity for Iran and Hamas to pump more blood into their chilled relationship. Meanwhile, Tehran wants to regain its alliance with
any regional power in the region, and Hamas has proven to be a party that should not be underestimated, regardless of our differences over other issues. The movement has actually showed steadfastness that lasted more than two weeks in front of the Israeli war machine.”
The Iranian source he expected Meshaal to visit Tehran soon, which Iran has repeatedly postponed this year.
“I expect Meshaal to visit Tehran very soon, after this visit was postponed several times, either to congratulate him on the Gaza victory or to renew the support that has recently declined. [Meshaal] will be warmly welcomed by the Iranian state, namely by the supreme leader-general of the revolution and all the decision-making departments,” the official added.
Another angle may help to improve the relations between Hamas and the axis of Iran and Hezbollah, which is Hamas’ tense relations with Egypt during the war.
A Hamas official in Gaza told Al-Monitor, “Hamas did not object to the renewal of the relationship with Iran and Hezbollah, as they are our allies and we share with them many years of cooperation and coordination, be it in political positions, financial support or military assistance, and despite the chilled relationship with them, we are keen to overcome any differences in order to support the resistance and confront Israel.”
The current regional pressure on Hamas to acquiesce to Israel’s terms in a cease-fire will push the movement closer to Tehran, the Hamas official said.
“The pressure that has been placed by some regional countries on Hamas to defer to Israel’s conditions for truce during the current war in Gaza, promotes improving the relationship with Iran, not at the expense of anyone, but out of a desire to expand the circle of friends and supporters,” he added.
The Israeli aggression on Gaza might have the counterproductive effect, as far as Israel is concerned, of restoring the broken ties between Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas. All three, despite the objections from Damascus, sense an opportunity to seize the regional circumstances and renew alliances. According to a Palestinian official based in Lebanon that has taken part in talks to revive ties between Hamas and Hezbollah, this also comes amid the flirtation between Qatar and Iran that may expedite the restoration of an alliance with Hamas, albeit still plagued by a number of problems.
Reuters – Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday called Israel a “rabid dog” for its attacks on Gaza, and urged Muslims to arm Palestinians to enable them to counter what he termed genocide.
About 1,087 Gazans, most of them civilians, have been killed in 22 days of fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. As well as 53 Israeli soldiers killed, three civilians have died as a result of Palestinian shelling.
In a speech marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, Khamenei criticized the United States and European countries for what he said were their efforts to limit the military capacity of Palestinian fighters in the enclave.
Of Israel, he said: “This rabid dog, this rapacious wolf, has attacked innocent people and humanity must show a reaction. This is genocide, a catastrophe of historical scale.”
They have been pounding innocent people day and night and these men women and children are defending themselves with minimum means, and now Americans and Europeans want to take even that away … so that those merciless beasts could pound without qualm.”
Khamenei denounced what he said was a ruling by U.S. President Barack Obama to disarm Palestinians – an apparent reference to U.S. opposition to efforts by Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, to obtain weapons such as missiles and rockets. Washington views Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Khamenei said Iran took the opposite view about arming Palestinians.
Everyone, whoever has the means, especially in the Islamic world, they should do what they can to arm the Palestinian nation … the Zionist regime deeply regrets starting this (war) but has no way out.”
Israel launched its offensive on July 8 with the aim of halting rocket attacks by Hamas and its allies. It later ordered a land invasion to find and destroy the warren of Hamas tunnels that criss-crosses the border area.
Tehran is at loggerheads with Western powers on a range of foreign policy issues including its nuclear program and its support for Hamas, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad and the Lebanese Shi’ite militant movement Hezbollah.
Khamenei’s speech to a crowd of hundreds of thousands in Tehran was broadcast live on state television. Khamenei was accompanied by senior government officials.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Lebanese Hezbollah Resistance Movement enjoys such a high degree of military power that it can launch a non-stop barrage of rockets on any part of Israel, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) stated.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah has such a power today that it can bring the entire Israeli cities under the heavy barrage of its missiles incessantly,” IRGC lieutenant Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami said on Sunday.
IRGC lieutenant Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami
The commander explained that such state of preparedness stems from the dogged determination of the Iranian nation in confronting the enemies.
Pointing to the recent Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip, Salami added, the Gaza war is a prelude to the annihilation of Israel.
He also underlined the necessity to fend the Islamic countries off the enemies, alluding to the Israeli atrocities against people of Gaza.
His comment came as more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed, and over 6,000 other injured in the besieged enclave during the Israeli three-week-long offensive on the besieged Gaza Strip.
Since July 8, Israeli warplanes have been pounding numerous sites in Gaza, demolishing houses and burying families in the rubble. Israeli tanks also began a ground offensive against the impoverished Palestinian land on July 17.
TEHRAN (FNA)- Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami underlined the necessity for defending the Muslim territories against the enemies, and said the Gaza war is a prelude to the annihilation of the Zionist regime.
“The Gaza war is the beginning and prelude to Israel’s collapse,” Salami said, addressing a gathering in Shahriayar city, near Tehran, on Sunday night.
Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier General Hossein Salami
He stressed the regional resistance groups’ power to confront Israel, and said, “Today, the Lebanese Hezbollah enjoys such a power that it can attack all Israeli cities with heavy, non-stop missile fire.”
“Today, the enemies can no more sit kilometers away and rule the Muslim nations,” Salami said.
In relevant remarks last week, IRGC Public Relations Department Chief General Ramezan Sharif pointed to the response given by Muslim and Palestinian warriors to Israel’s savage attacks against the defenseless and oppressed people of Gaza, and said, “The quality and trend of action of the Palestinian resistance movement in recent days indicates that the defensive and offensive power of Hamas, Ezzedin Al-Qassam and Quds brigades forces have increased so much that one can dare say that all Zionists are within the range of the resistance’s missiles.”
Israel has been pounding the blockaded Gaza for 21 consecutive days, killing at least 1,062 people and injuring more than 6,000 others.
An elementary school packed with hundreds of Palestinian evacuees seeking shelter under UN protection came under heavy Israeli fire Thursday, leaving 17 people dead and more than 200 wounded, including women, children and infants.
TEHRAN (FNA)- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi underlined that Iran’s deterrence power is indebted to its defensive capabilities, specially the tactics which are unknown to the enemies.
“As we monitor the enemies’ moves precisely, they also follow the same trend; but…what has created the deterrence power for Iran is the defensive capabilities, the strong measures and backups which have disturbed the enemy’s thoughts and mental equations,” Fadavi said, addressing the IRGC commanders in Tehran on Monday.
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi
He underlined Iran’s intelligence superiority over enemies, and said, “What is making the enemy fearful is not the measures and tactics which can be seen, assessed and predicted, but those that are unknown.”
In a relevant statement in May, the Iranian Army said the country’s Armed Forces enjoy such a good level of deterrence power that no enemy would dare to attack Iran.
The fear and concern of the arrogant powers from Iran’s military productions and equipment shows the Armed Forces’ superiority and high deterrence power which makes the cost of any military intervention against the Islamic Iran unimaginable and beyond the realm of estimate and prediction for the enemies,” said the statement issued on the threshold of Pasdar (Guardsmen) Day in Iran.
Today, unity and sympathy is concrete among the Armed Forces more than ever and this as well as the leadership and measures of the highly esteemed Commander-in-Chief (Ayatollah Khamenei), God’s attention and indigenized capabilities have taken the opportunity from the enemies to make an aggression against the Islamic Iran,” it added.
TEHRAN (FNA)- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi underlined the Iranian Armed Forces’ deterrence power, and said Iran’s foes do not even dare to think of attacking the country.
“When the enemies of the Revolution aren’t able to defeat Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad Movements that the enemies, themselves, say the Islamic Revolution (of Iran) has created, … they certainly won’t dare to leer down at the Islamic Republic either,” Fadavi said, addressing a gathering in Tehran on Saturday night.
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi
“And the reason behind this fact is Iran’s deterrence power,” he added.
In relevant remarks earlier this month, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei stressed the Iranian nation and Armed Forces’ preparedness to defend the country, and said the enemies would never dare to take military action against Iran.
In a meeting with senior Iranian officials, Ayatollah Khamenei said that Israel’s military threats against Iran are constantly repeated but the United States prevents Tel Aviv from launching a strike.
The reason for the US’ prevention (of an Israeli attack against Iran) is that (it) does not see the attack affordable and we also strongly emphasize that a military attack on the Islamic Republic is not affordable for any one,” the Leader said.
Ayatollah Khamenei said that arrogant powers have no more options against Iran except for military threats and sanctions.
“Enemy’s hand is empty in both fields of sanctions and threats,” the Leader said.
Iran’s Leader stressed that the enemies have so far failed to confront the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In relevant remarks in February, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan underlined that the Iranian Armed Forces will give an inconceivable response to any possible enemy aggression, adding that the threatening remarks of the US officials cannot prevent the country from continuing its nuclear fuel production.
The Iranian Armed Forces are an intertwined and coherent complex which can give a decisive response to any threat at any level and any place under the command of the Commander-in-Chief (Ayatollah Khamenei),” Dehqan said in Tehran, addressing the defense ministry personnel on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
IRAN NEWS UPDATE – The mullahs’ regime executed 10 prisoners including 4 women on July 20 and 21 in the central prison of Birjand. Eight of these prisoners were executed in collective hanging on Sunday, July 20.
Meanwhile, the head of the judiciary in Ghaemshahr sentenced one 32 year old man to two death sentences – one by hanging and one by stoning – plus 15 years imprisonment.
In recent days, the inhumane punishment of flogging has been implemented on at least nine citizens in the cities of Kermanshah, Shiraz and Babolsar. In another brutal action, on July 14 in Majidieh Street in Tehran, agents of the regime extinguished the lightened cigarette of a fellow Christian on his lips and brutally beat him.
The rise in summary executions – 800 recorded executions in the first year of mullah Rouhani’s presidency – and other medieval punishments disclose the mirage of “moderation” and “reform” within the Iranian regime.
