Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf says the country’s military has grown and expanded significantly during the past two wars of aggression imposed on the country by the United States and the Israeli regime.
“Over the past 15 months or so, during which we have been engaged in two wars, we have achieved progress and advancement equivalent to a decade, and this is not a claim I make lightly,” Qalibaf said in video-recorded remarks published on Tuesday.
He said that the Iranian military forces had made significant progress both in refurbishing the equipment lost or damaged during the two past wars, and in designing and carrying out offensive and defensive operations.
“Our military forces…have made a significant leap in the quality of their performance…they carry out their tasks in the best possible manner,” he said.
The remarks come in response to claims by US officials, including US President Donald Trump, suggesting the wars imposed on Iran have significantly damaged the country’s military capabilities.
Qalibaf dismissed the claims and said that Iran still holds the upper hand in the ongoing confrontation with the US.
“They have declared dozens of times that they destroyed 90 percent, 80 percent, or 70 percent (of the missiles), but yet in response to every action, they witnessed an even more severe reaction,” he said.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf says the country has complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the US is doing its best to smuggle a few ships through the strait at night, an effort met with opposition from Iran.
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The Iranian parliament speaker said Iranian missile and drone strikes against US bases in various countries in the region have held a strategic message for Washington, saying the devastating attacks have convinced the Americans that they can no longer stand against Iranian missiles and missile firepower.
He said that the US has clearly run short of options against Iran, as it lacks a sufficient supply of weapons and air defense systems to defend against Iranian attacks.
Qalibaf said such flaws became more evident during the 39-day US-Israeli aggression against Iran that ended as part of a ceasefire in mid-April and became known as the Ramadan War.
“…your defensive power, both in radar or missile systems, became far more vulnerable during the Ramadan War, and we responded more effectively,” said Qalibaf.
