TEHRAN -- A top commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday, the force is making efforts to continually strengthen the Islamic Republic of Iran’s missile and drone power.
Addressing an annual conference of high-profile IRGC military commanders and officials here, Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Division, said the IRGC is constantly boosting its drone and missile power.
“There was a time when the enemy was in the offensive position, and we were concerned about defense. Today, we are in the offensive mode, and our enemies are looking to improve their defense systems,” Hajizadeh said.
“The superpowers with whom we could not interact even through third parties are now reaching out to Iran to purchase advanced defense gear,” he said.
“Western countries, led by the United States and its allies, are acting like the blades of a pair of scissors and seeking to inflict damage on Iran’s economy,” he said, stressing the need for resolution of economic issues.
Elsewhere in his remarks, he described the IRGC as a guarantor of Iran’s Islamic establishment that neutralizes the enemies’ conspiracies.
Iranian military experts and engineers have in recent years made remarkable breakthroughs in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient.
Officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, including its missile power, which are entirely meant for defense, and that Iran’s defense capabilities will be never subject to negotiations.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has repeatedly called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran’s defense capabilities.
On Friday, IRGC Navy commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said the homegrown fast attack craft operated by the naval force can now sail at the speed of 110 nautical knots (203 km/h).
Addressing a gathering of high-profile IRGC commanders and officials here, he said Iranian experts have increased the speed of the vessels, as demanded by the Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces Ayatollah Khamenei.
“Nowadays, we possess fast attack craft that can sail at a speed of between 90 to 110 knots,” Tangsiri said.
He pointed out that IRGC naval forces are now in full control of the Persian Gulf, and U.S. aircraft carriers have to observe Iran’s maritime regulations while sailing in the strategic body of water.
“There was a time when NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) member states did not comply with our maritime regulations.

But they now conform to the IRGC Navy’s warnings. For instance, IRGC vessels once sailed towards a US aircraft carrier, and the warship retreated at least [nautical] 150 miles (277 kilometers),” the senior military commander said.
He went on to note that the IRGC Navy is now in possession of various types of combat, reconnaissance, surveillance and hybrid unmanned aerial vehicles and has a wide inventory of ground-based anti-ship missiles.
“We have managed to install rocket launchers on 8-meter-long fast attack craft. We are the first country in the West Asia region to manufacture a vessel, with an airstrip for drones to fly from or land on,” Tangsiri said.