Iran will give crushing response to any threat: Army chief commander

Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, who also commands Iran's Air Defense Headquarters, made the remarks in the southern Iranian province of Bushehr on Monday after inspecting air defense units affiliated with the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in the province.
“We have maintained the security of the Persian Gulf for [the past] forty years and will continue to do so with full power after this, and will give a crushing response to any threat posed by the enemy at any level,” Mousavi said.
Emphasizing that security in the Persian Gulf during the past four decades has been safeguarded through efforts made by Iran's Armed Forces, the top commander added, “With help from other regional countries, this region could be the most secure region in the world.”
In response to a question about Iran's preparedness in the air defense sector, he said the Iranian Armed Forces have simulated "the most severe and worst-case” threats against the country, and are ready to respond in kind and defend the Iranian borders, skies and nation as well as the Islamic Revolution’s ideals.
"Usually, when extra-regional countries enter this region, they cause insecurity and tension, but as we have maintained security of this [region] over the past 40 years, we are duty-bound to preserve this security with full power from now on," Mousavi pointed out.
He said the air defense forces of the Iranian Army and the IRGC are working together in coordination and synergy and are protecting all of the country's "important, sensitive and vital" areas.
The Iranian Armed Forces have also made all necessary preparations for powerful protection of the country's border areas, the senior commander added, noting that the country is impervious to threats.
Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri said late last month that the Islamic Republic has mustered sustainable and strong deterrence power to ward off plots by enemies who think about any form of aggression against the country.
“Praise be to God, at the present time, a sustainable and strong form of deterrence has been created in the face of enemy’s plot to carry out any act of aggression against the Islamic Iran and enemies have understood that the Islamic Iran enjoys the readiness, determination and courage and will not hesitate to defend its ideals, land and people,” he said.
His remarks came just a day after Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami also said that the Islamic Republic will give a strong response to the slightest act of aggression.
"We will deal severely with the slightest act of aggression and if such behavior is repeated, our response will certainly be stronger," Hatami said in an address to National Conference on Jihad and Resistance in Tehran.