WANA (Apr 06) – Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, stated on Sunday that the President of the United States recently sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and received a “deserved response” shaped by the Supreme Leader’s guidance and directives.

 

“The Leader’s instructions were clear: Iran does not initiate war, but any threat will be met with full force. We seek peace in the region,” General Bagheri said.

 

Speaking to commanders, managers, and staff at the General Staff of the Armed Forces and Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Bagheri outlined the fundamental prerequisites for investment in production, naming strong national defense, sustainable security, internal stability, and investor confidence as key components.

 

“The heavy responsibility of defending the country lies with the Armed Forces,” he noted. “All our efforts must ensure deterrence, effective defense, and stable security, providing assurance for both domestic and foreign investors.”

 

Operations “True Promise 1 & 2”

Referring to recent military actions against Israel, including Operations True Promise 1 and 2, General Bagheri emphasized that the confrontations revealed both strengths and weaknesses on both sides.

 

“We swiftly addressed key issues and can now confidently say that our air defense, missile production, drone, and cruise missile capabilities are on an entirely different level compared to the enemy’s performance in these operations.”

 

Strong Condemnation of International Silence on Gaza

Condemning the “deadly silence” and “double standards” of international human rights organizations regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon, Bagheri accused Western nations of complicity.

 

“The atrocities and genocide committed by the Zionist regime—destroying homes and killing innocent civilians, including women, children, and the elderly—took place with full support from the American regime and European countries, and under the disgraceful silence of so-called human rights bodies,” he said.

 

Criticism of U.S. Leadership and Nuclear Stance

General Bagheri described the new U.S. president as a “narcissistic and bullying figure,” asserting that he has alienated not only adversaries but also allies. He reiterated that Iran had responded to the U.S. president’s letter in accordance with the Supreme Leader’s directives.

 

“The Supreme Leader’s position is firm: we will not start a war, but any threat will be met with full force. We seek regional peace. We are not pursuing nuclear weapons—only our people’s peaceful nuclear needs. We will not engage in direct talks, though indirect negotiations are acceptable. The U.S. has proven to be the most untrustworthy party in past talks, and we have no faith in its commitments.”

 

Military Roadmap and Strategic Warning

Highlighting the roadmap for Iran’s Armed Forces through 2025, Bagheri said it was formulated based on lessons learned from the past year and a careful analysis of strengths and weaknesses. “As per the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s directive, we must double the pace of boosting our capabilities.”

 

He stressed that trust in divine support remains central: “Reliance on God’s help and belief in divine power must pulse through every member and institution of our Armed Forces.”

 

Concluding with a warning, he said, “We demonstrated our willpower during the True Promise operations, and we’ve further strengthened it. We are prepared so that, upon the Supreme Leader’s command, we can unleash the full force of our capabilities against the enemy in the shortest time possible. Any aggression against Iran’s sovereignty or interests will be met with a crushing and irreparable response.”