TEHRAN – Iranian military commander Major Amir Khatami (Artesh) visited Tehran’s Shahid Rashigari Air Base (First Tactical Air Base) on Friday, accompanied by Habibora Saiyari, who was visited by the military’s deputy commander of the deputy vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice presidential vice president (Iriaf).
High-level delegations toured major operational units, and General Khatami personally assessed the combat capabilities of one of Iran’s most important air bases.
General Khatami was recently appointed to his role by Ayatollah Seiyed Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, and was Iran’s Minister of Defence from 2017 to 2021.
The Army Chief’s inspection on Friday included air defense batteries, mechanized brigades and logistics hubs.
His recent appointment highlighted an order from leaders calling for a “transformative and innovative approach” to military preparation in the face of evolving regional threats.
During his meeting with the base’s fighter pilot, General Khatami conveyed a strong message, claiming that “the army must maintain the territorial integrity, independence and system of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
He further stated that the nature of protecting Iranian boundaries is essentially linked to protecting the “sacre system” of the Islamic Republic.
In a homage to courage displayed during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, the Army Chief warned, “We have demonstrated that, although not then and today, one inch of Iranian soil will never be lost.”
That same spirit of rebellion will return to the battlefield decades later when the army once again stands at the forefront of new hostilities.
The Israeli regime’s invasion campaign began with a blatant and unprovoked assault on June 13, targeting senior Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilian infrastructure across multiple cities, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,060 Iranians, mostly civilians.
The strike, which includes coordinated air, missiles and drone attacks, was accused by Tehran officials of serious violations of international law and calculation attempts to destabilize the Islamic Republic.
Iranian forces have been at the forefront of the country’s defense through a 12-day war, engaging Israeli forces in multiple territories, including air defense, air combat and strategic ground operations.
Figures released by the Army show that at least 56 Army officials were martyred during the war, highlighting the central role of the Army in protecting Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Army commander Major General Amir Khatami later described the war as a “humiliating defeat” of the enemy, saying “the enemy’s ominous intentions were neutralised by the blood and effort of our martians.”