TEHRAN -- Iran celebrated the success of its weekend drone and missile attack on the occupying regime of Israel as it staged an annual military parade on Wednesday.
The Islamic Republic launched its first-ever direct attack on the Zionist regime on Saturday in response to an April 1 airstrike on its consulate in Damascus.
The operation dubbed True Promise “brought down the glory of the Zionist regime,” President Ebrahim Raisi said at a military base on the outskirts of Tehran.
“This operation showed that our armed forces are ready,” he said in a speech addressed to the regular army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
Iran’s retaliatory operation, he said, inflicted not only a military defeat but also a strategic setback on the occupying Tel Aviv regime, and dissuaded certain regional Arab countries seeking to normalize diplomatic ties with the Zionist entity.
“The Zionist regime’s defeat was an intelligence, security and military one; but it was a strategic setback above all. Some countries sought to normalize relations with the Zionist regime, but they are now humiliated in the eyes of their own nations. This was a strategic failure for that regime.” 
Wednesday’s parade saw the Iranian armed forces showcase a range of military equipment including drones and long-range ballistic missiles.
The president said, “The Army stands by the nation and acts to defend the homeland, territorial integrity and the values of the Islamic Revolution. Our army has distinguished itself from other armies in the world in terms of belief and faith in God and reliance on divine power.
“Our army is a skilled and trained force. Its military know-how is up-to-date and such a skill has distinguished the Iranian Army. The army is equipped with sophisticated innovations and technologies. The hardware that once had to be operated by other countries before the Islamic Revolution, is now updated by capable technicians in the Armed Forces.”
Raisi emphasized that Iran has achieved technical, industrial, military, and indigenous independence, thanks to the efforts of young specialists in the armed forces.
He said the Islamic Republic’s military capabilities, including the production of fighter jets, vessels, tanks, and smart systems, have established the nation as a formidable force both regionally and globally.
“Our equipped and updated Army, alongside the IRGC and other armed forces, constitute the pillars of our nation’s authority,” 
Raisi said, stressing that regional forces can rely on Iranian armed forces.
The president reiterated warnings against “the slightest act of aggression” by the occupying regime, saying it would lead to “a fierce and severe response”.
Iran says the attack was limited and carried out in “self-defense” following the strike on its consulate in the Syrian capital, and proved that the regime’s power is like a spider’s web.
“Operation True Promise was a limited and not a comprehensive measure. If we had carried out a stronger operation, nothing would then have been left out of Israel,” he said.
In his speech, Raisi also hit out at countries that had “sought to normalize relations” with Israel.
“These countries are now humiliated in front of their own people which constitutes a strategic failure for the regime” of Israel, he added.
Raisi pointed to the growing global support for Palestine as well as simmering resentment against the United States and Israel, emphasizing that support for Palestine and the resistance front has now become the ensign of all nations and religions.
In 2020, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco normalized relations with the Zionist regime as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, vehemently criticized by the Palestinians.
Egypt and Jordan signed peace accords with Israel in 1979 and 1994, respectively.  
The head of Iran’s military said the country’s security forces are on high alert, speaking on the sidelines of the military parade.
Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said even deadlier weapons were kept out of the parade but will be deployed in case of an Israeli retaliation for a weekend drone and missile attack.
“Currently, we are in a state of readiness to deal with possible evils, and what we displayed throughout the country today was a small part of our capabilities,” he said.
He also said the Zionist regime has decided not to embark on a military response due to its monitoring of Iran’s defensive measures.