News - Middle East: The top Iranian military official has underlined the need to keep strengthening defense power and deterrence capability as the only way to protect the country against external threats.

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi made the remarks in a message sent to Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh on Thursday, marking the National Defense Industry Day.

He said the “remarkable and honorable achievements” of Iran’s defense industry in recent years, parts of which were displayed during the sacred resistance against the Israeli-US aggression, reflect the nation’s self-confidence, unfaltering faith, and reliance on indigenous capacities.

"Regional and global developments, as well as the lessons learnt from the 12-day imposed war …, once again underscore the fact that the only way to safeguard the country from foreseeable and emerging threats is the continued strategy of strengthening defense power, enhancing deterrence capability, and upgrading military systems, equipment, and weaponry … using advanced knowledge and technology," Mousavi noted.

He also appreciated the efforts of Nasirzadeh and his colleagues towards reinforcing the Islamic Republic’s defense might and wished them success.

'Iran a regional hub of deterrence'

Also on Thursday, the Iranian Defense Ministry released a statement commemorating the National Defense Industry Day.

It said the design and production of various weapons and military equipment tailored to Iran's defense needs elevated the country from dependence on foreign powers to the heights of self-sufficiency and strength and turned it into “a regional hub of defensive power and deterrence.”

Iran’s “astonishing” missile power, which was demonstrated through retaliatory counterstrikes during the recent aggression, made the enemies realize that they would receive a very strong slap in the face in case of any acts of adventurism or miscalculation in the region, it added.

On June 13, Israel launched a blatant and unprovoked aggression against Iran, triggering a 12-day war that killed at least 1,064 people in the country, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

The United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of international law.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia.

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the illegal assault.

Source: Press TV