Iran Revolutionary Guards say forces ready for rapid operations

A senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said forces are prepared to launch military operations “in the shortest possible time” following a series of exercises involving the Basij militia and Revolutionary Guard units in Tehran.

Hassan Hassanzadeh said the forces had achieved all objectives during a five-day military exercise conducted in and around the Iranian capital, Iran International reports. 

“We are ready to carry out any operation, at any point and in any time frame, in the shortest possible time,” Hassanzadeh was quoted as saying.

He said the drills involved previously rehearsed scenarios, tactics and operational techniques designed to confront enemies “in any territory.”

The exercises included units from the Basij paramilitary force and the Mohammad Rasoulollah Corps, a branch of the Revolutionary Guards responsible for security in the Greater Tehran area.

By Sabina Mammadli