Commander of Islamic Republic Guard Corps (IRGC) considering current structure of the military organ quite different with its initial status, said here Friday revising IRGC's strategy was a necessity.
Brigadier General Yahya Rahim-Safavi added in an interview with IRNA, "Revising this force's strategy, training methods,
organizational flowchart, facilities, management, staff management and control, is a bare necessity today, due to the presence of ultra-regional forces in the region, and the probability of confrontation with them."
He said that the IRGC is taking advantage of five branches toady, it ballistic missiles with over 2,000 kilometer range, and a very strong anti-aircraft defense network, turning it to one of the strongest regional defensive forces, with defensive, security and cultural missions inside Iran.
Expressing hope that the IRGC would remain a competent guardian of the political system of Iran, Rahim-Safavi said, "The IRGC is a fruit of the Islamic Revolution, and capable of effective and brave resistance against any internal, or external aggressive move, relying on scientific methods, and strong belief in God."
He said, "We can side by side with Islamic Republic of Iran's Army, Navy and Air Force, effectively defend the interests and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Iranian nation, and our national interests.
The IRGC Commander-in-Chief said that his organ's initial mission had been defensive, security and cultural activities, but the activities, such as assisting the governments in their construction and infrastructure project, and assisting the natural disasters' victims, and relief operations were later on added to them.
He said that the IRGC currently has barracks at most sensitive and vital, and strategic locations of the country, such as the oil rich province of Khuzestan, the northwest, Hormoz Strait, the Persian Gulf, and Iran's three Islands, where they are serving their missions.
The internal missions of IRGC, according to Commander Rahim-Safavi include lasting security of Tehran Province, that is up to IRGC's Saralalh Barracks.
In other districts, where the local disciplinary forces are incapable of solving crises, the IRGC steps in to guarantee the lasting security, according to him.
The IRGC also has cultural activities, side by side with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the Culture & Islamic Guidance Ministry, and the Islamic Propagation Organization (IPO), offering various courses aimed at Islamic culture making.
In defense of the territorial integrity of the Islamic republic of Iran, according to Brigadier General Rahim Safavi, the IRGC is the strongest defensive force in the Middle East.
IRGC's land, air and naval forces, in addition to the IRGC's Basij mobilization voluntary force, and the Qods Corps, are positioned alongside Iran's borders, and ready for all types of defensive work.
Presently the IRGC's military status is quite satisfactory, according to its Chief Commander, and capable of restoration of peace and stability in the region, that is disturbed due to the conduct of the US and Zionist forces, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Lebanon, if they would be commissioned to.
"The Americans have faced a strategic dead end in Iraq, and due to the humiliating defeat they have faced in pursuing their Greater Middle East Initiative, they might be after new adventurism, in Lebanon, or Iran, for both the IRGC, and the Lebanese Hezbollah, are fortunately well prepared," assured Rahim-Safavi.
© IRNA 2007
