Iran's Acting Defence Minister asserts forces' readiness to counter threats
Tehran, August 6
Iran's Acting Defence Minister, Brigadier General Majid Ebn-e-Reza, on Thursday asserted the country's military preparedness to counter external security threats, stating that the Iranian Armed Forces' readiness relies on its domestic defence sector.
"Every day, the signs of the enemy's erosion of power become more evident; however, our Armed Forces, relying on the country's defence industry, are fully equipped to respond to any threat," official state news agency IRNA quoted Ebn-e-Reza as saying in a post on his social media handle.
Ebn-e-Reza warned that nations seeking to purchase security and military superiority from foreign suppliers will soon discover that Iran's indigenous technology surpasses all regional military hardware.
The Acting Minister's remarks follow a fresh surge in tensions between Tehran and Washington, driven by US President Donald Trump's latest warnings of military action against Iran.
Speaking on Tuesday (US local time), Trump stated that Iran will be "hit very hard" if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened "very soon."
Connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, the Strait of Hormuz serves as a vital international trade route, transporting major oil and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) exports from Gulf producers to global markets.
During an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States is "having very good discussions" with Iranian officials. However, Tehran swiftly refuted claims of active diplomatic engagement.
Trump previously warned that Washington was extending a "last chance before decapitation", adding that both sides were discussing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz "literally by tomorrow."
"I mean they're going to go quickly, one way or the other. It's not very complex," Trump told reporters at the Oval Office on Monday.
"We're talking about the Strait, the opening of the Strait, having it open, literally by tomorrow," he added.
Dismissing the US President's statements during a press briefing in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei clarified, "We are not holding any negotiations with the United States at present."
Baqaei pointed out that, aside from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is currently on a pilgrimage in Iraq, the entire Iranian diplomatic team remains present in Tehran.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The Strait of Hormuz is literally the world's oil artery. If Iran closes it, fuel prices in India will skyrocket overnight. The US needs to back off a bit and give diplomacy a real chance. War here would hurt everyone, including us in the global south.
Honestly, this feels like a lot of chest-thumping on both sides. Iran claims their domestic weapons are superior, Trump says he'll strike "very hard" - but the actual people in Iran and the US just want to live their lives. India has 1.4 billion people; we can't afford instability in the Gulf with millions of our citizens working there. 🙏
One thing that stands out is that Iran says they won't negotiate with the US, yet their acting defence minister is busy posting on social media. Real negotiations happen behind closed doors, not on Twitter. This is a dangerous game of chicken, and a miscalculation could lead to a regional firestorm.
I'm worried about our Indian workers in the Gulf region. Any conflict would put lakhs of Indians in danger and disrupt our trade and oil supply. The US and Iran need to step back from the brink. Diplomacy, not war. Jai Ho to peace. 🇮🇳
Iran's assertion of military readiness is mostly bluster for domestic consumption. Their aerospace capabilities have been hit hard by decades of sanctions. While they have some decent missile tech, a direct confrontation with the US military would be catastrophic. Better to be wise and negotiate than to rely on slogans.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.