Iran Ready for Military Drills With China

Iran is fully prepared to hold joint military drills with China, said the chairman of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is completely ready to expand and deepen defense-military cooperation between the two countries, including holding joint military maneuvers,” Major General Mohammad Baqeri said in a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister General Chang Wanquan in Tehran on Monday, Press TV reported. He hailed China’s constructive role in international equations and called on the country to continue efforts to counter the hegemony and aggression of arrogant world powers.

Pointing to cordial relations between Tehran and Beijing, the Iranian commander stressed the importance of improving strategic cooperation on regional and international developments. Baqeri said future cooperation and military moves between the two countries would be based on an agreement signed by Iranian Defense Minister Lieutenant General Hossein Dehqan and his Chinese counterpart in Tehran earlier in the day.

Dehqan and Chang signed the agreement on Monday to boost defense-military cooperation and fight terrorism. The Chinese defense chief described relations between Tehran and Beijing as “bright and very promising”.

Chang noted that his country’s armed forces would attach special significance to completely implement the defense-military agreement. Baqeri and Chang also called for more meetings between the two countries’ officials to discuss security and military issues in the region and highlighted the need to counter terrorism as the most important threat to all countries.

They stressed the importance of making collective efforts to reinforce peace and stability, and respect the rights of legitimate governments in the region. In recent years, Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing important military equipment and systems. The Islamic Republic has conducted several military drills to enhance the defense capabilities of its armed forces and test modern military tactics and equipment.

Iran says its military might poses no threat to other countries, stating that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.