Iran declares 'efficient deterrence' against any military strike
Iran has in recent years shown off its military advancements, particularly its drones and ballistic missiles, shrugging off Western worries that it is escalating tensions in an already volatile Middle East.
Iran's top officer said on Tuesday that his country has gained sufficient military prowess to make its foes forego the option of a military strike against the Islamic Republic.
"It's been years since they have stopped talking about the military option," said the chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, in an interview with Tasnim news agency.
Enumerating "criminal" foes, including the United States and Israel, Bagheri said they have also come to the conclusion that "a ground battle against the Islamic Republic will be doomed in failure."
Despite engaging in on-and-off diplomacy with Tehran over the past decade, the United States has warned that "everything remains on the table" in its treatment of threats posed by the Islamic Republic's nuclear and missile programs. Iran's No. 1 foe, Israel, has been more open in such rhetoric, threatening to strike specific Iranian nuclear sites.
