WANA (Aug 21) – Iran’s military and defense power advanced significantly during the recent Ramadan War against American and Israeli forces, enabling strikes deep inside enemy bases with unprecedented precision, according to Acting Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Sardar Seyed Majid Ibn al-Reza.

 

Speaking at Tehran’s Friday Prayers on Defense Industry Day, Ibn al-Reza emphasized that Iran has never been and will never be the initiator of aggression against any country. He stated that while the nation is not seeking military invasion, it will never allow any military aggression against its territory, independence, or security.

 

The acting minister highlighted that without security, the economy suffers, investments decline, science and technology face severe obstacles, and the peace of the public is destroyed.

 

Consequently, today’s defense capacity and industry stand as essential pillars of national security and vital components of deterrence.

 

Expanding on these principles, Ibn al-Reza stated that the Islamic Republic entered the Ramadan War considerably stronger than in the previous 12-Day War, utilizing superior tactics, techniques, and operational surprises.

 

He noted that Iranian forces achieved greater penetration into enemy strongholds, downed more aircraft, helicopters, and drones, and effectively targeted the enemy’s most vulnerable points, ultimately forcing them to regret their aggression.

 

Addressing the broader role of the defense sector, he described visible military hardware like missiles and drones as merely the tip of an iceberg. Below the surface lies a vast network of universities, research labs, knowledge-based companies, scientists, engineers, workers, and thousands of young Iranians working around the clock.

 

He reiterated that defense capabilities serve purely as a deterrence to prevent war and guarantee national security—the foundation for all societal progress.

 

Reflecting on the hardships and casualties of the recent war—including the martyrdom of leaders, commanders, scientists, women, and children—Ibn al-Reza framed the conflict as a major test that ultimately solidified national self-reliance. The experience removed historical doubts regarding Iranian technical competence, proving that relying on domestic talent enables the nation to withstand complex threats.

 

This unity among workers, teachers, farmers, students, government officials, and the armed forces represents the true source of national power, which shattered the myth of invincibility surrounding major foreign powers and fostered greater optimism for the country’s future.

 

Looking at modern defense requirements, Ibn al-Reza highlighted that contemporary military strength relies heavily on cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, microelectronics, advanced materials, telecommunications, cognitive sciences, and smart systems.

 

However, he stressed that dedicated human capital remains the core asset, pointing out that over 90% of Defense Ministry personnel are educated specialists. He called for trusting young elites, providing them opportunities to develop their ideas locally, and noting that the recent conflicts even spurred a trend of reverse migration among Iranian specialists.

 

In conclusion, he asserted that true authority combines science, faith, rationality, and courage, paying tribute to the country’s 1,200 defense ministry martyrs and pledging to continue the path of national independence and dignity.