Tehran does not believe the threat from its enemies has ended following the June conflict with Israel, Iran’s top army commander said on Sunday, adding that the Islamic Republic’s missile and drone capabilities remain fully operational and intact.
"A 1% threat must be perceived as a 100% threat. We should not underestimate the enemy and consider its threats as over," Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami said on Sunday.
He added that the Islamic Republic's missile and drone power "remains standing and ready for operations."
Last month, Iran's president said that the country is ready for further conflict with Israel as tensions continue to simmer, saying that he does not believe that the fragile ceasefire is final.
Iran's government says 1,062 people were killed during the 12-day conflict with Israel, including 786 military personnel and 276 civilians. Iranian strikes also killed 29 civilians and one off-duty soldier, Israeli media reported.
Hatami, addressing senior commanders of the Army’s Ground Forces, accused Israel of pursuing various plots against Iran “under the illusion that it could harm the Islamic system.”
He said Tel Aviv’s “miscalculation” was exposed during the 12-day war, which saw Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation in June. “With the miraculous steadfastness of the Iranian people, Israel realized it had made a strategic mistake."
“We continued our attacks until the very last moment before the ceasefire,” Hatami said, hailing Iran’s defense posture.
Hatami warned that the country’s adversaries should expect Iran to pursue its military and scientific development “with more resolve than ever.”
On Saturday, an Israeli air force commander involved in the June war with Iran said the country has no choice but to prepare for another round of fighting.
Known only as T, the commander of the 9th UAV squadron for the past three years, told Israel Hayom: "There is no arena in which we can rest on our laurels, and there is no choice but to prepare for another arena against Iran."
