Tehran – A senior spokesman at the Islamic Revolutionary Security Force Corps (IRGC) firmly rejects the possibility of negotiations on Iran’s defense capabilities, calling it an in-negotiable red line with the core elements of the country’s sovereignty.
Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini made a speech on Tuesday at a press conference commemorating the one anniversary of the missile retaliation strike in the capacity of Israeli forces in the occupying territory of Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile lethalitat strike.
“National security, together with our defense and military capabilities, constitutes the red line of Iran’s Islamic Republic,” Naini said. “These are issues that will never be open to negotiations or compromise under any circumstances.”
His remarks came just before indirect discussions in the second round between Iran and the United States in Oman.
Looking back at the April 2024 operation, Naeini described the true promise as a “historic and strategic milestone,” demonstrating Iran’s aggressive scope and resolution. The operation, which included more than 300 drones and missiles fired towards Israeli military facilities, was retaliated for a fatal Israeli airstrike at the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which killed seven IRGC members.
“This is the largest drone operation in the world’s military history, with unmanned aviation vehicles flying over 1,000 kilometers to reach their target,” Naini said.
Naeini emphasized that the strike took place within the framework of international law and called Article 51 of the UN Charter.
IRGC officials noted that the operation shattered Israel’s invincible image, exposing its vulnerable security infrastructure and highlighting the emergence of Iran as a regional force in the missile and drone war. “This decisive act sent a clear message to the Zionist entities and gave hope, especially to the Palestinians who were oppressed in Gaza,” he added.
As Iran’s “measured retaliation” policy continues, it carried out a second major anti-Israel operation in October 2024 following the assassination of the resistance commander by Israeli forces. Later that month, Israeli fighters reported support for airspace and logistics from US military presences in Iraq, but released missiles on Iranian military targets, causing little damage.
Tehran pointed to the move that Israel’s move was a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter. According to Naeini, the attack was successfully thwarted by Iran’s advanced air defense system.