IRGC chief: No force can defeat Iran's revolutionary guards

On December 23 commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami said that no force in the world is capable of defeating the IRGC, emphasizing the group’s strength across land, sea, and air.

Speaking aboard an ocean-going warship in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, Salami praised the IRGC’s dedication to its duties and its role in defending Iran, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

“Our naval forces are steadfast in protecting Iran, and they have become a symbol of strength for our people,” Salami said. He further highlighted the IRGC’s resilience in the battlefield and its contributions to the Iranian people’s well-being.

In 2019, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei also lauded the IRGC as a key player in the fight against the country’s adversaries, insisting that US efforts to undermine the force would ultimately fail.

Khamenei described the IRGC as a leading force on the frontlines, operating not only along Iran’s borders but also in distant regions, and serving as a central figure in political confrontations.

To recap, IRGC, established 40 years ago to protect Iran's Islamic system and counterbalance the regular military, has evolved into a significant force in the country's military, political, and economic spheres. With over 190,000 active members, the IRGC commands its own ground forces, navy, and air force, and controls Iran's strategic weapons.

Additionally, it oversees the Basij Resistance Force, which has played a role in quelling domestic opposition, and influential charitable foundations, known as bonyads, which manage substantial portions of the economy.

The IRGC extends its influence across the Middle East through its clandestine Quds Force, which supports allied governments and armed groups by providing funding, arms, training, and advice. The United States accuses the Quds Force of backing terrorist organizations and orchestrating attacks in Iraq and beyond, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of American and allied troops.

In January 2020, a US drone strike in Baghdad killed the Quds Force commander, Major General Qasem Soleimani, who was linked to a deadly rocket attack in Iraq and reportedly planning further attacks on US personnel. Following his death, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed "forceful revenge," escalating tensions in the region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev