Iran: Saff carries roundup of army 'top events'

Unclassified

Document ID: IAP20010407000019

Version Number: 01

Region: Near East/South Asia

Sub-Region: South Asia

Country: Iran

Topic: DOMESTIC POLITICAL, INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL, MILITARY

Source-Date: 03/20/2001

Iran: Saff carries roundup of army 'top events'

 IAP20010407000019 Tehran Saff No. 250 in Persian 20 Mar 01 pp 29-34 

[Unattributed report: "Top events in the Army"]

[FBIS Translated Text]

 [Subhead] Commanders, officials, men and personnel of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran renew their pledge of allegiance to the founder of the Islamic Republic 

     On the seventh day of the Ayyam Allah [days of God; the 10 days in February marking the revolution's anniversary] of the glorious Fajr period, a large number of top ranking commanders and officials as well as personnel of the three forces of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran assembled at the immaculate tomb of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the eminence Imam Khomeyni, to renew their pledge of allegiance to the ideals of the beloved deceased leader (may his soul be admitted to God's paradise] . 

     Those present at the ceremony offered prayers and then verses of Qor'an were recited.   Then, Hojjat ol-Eslam val-Moslemin Seyyed Reza Akrami, Deputy Head of the Army Ideological-Political Organization, speaking on Khomeyni's historic role in bringing the system of the Islamic Republic of Iran into existence, said that he was successful in inspiring dynamism in masses of people at home and abroad. 

     In another part of his speech, Hojjat ol-Eslam Akrami stressed that it was the religious duty of the armed forces to obey the instructions of the grand leader of the revolution and the C-in-C of the armed forces, Ayatollah Khamene'i, may his shadow lengthen.   He then paid tribute to the immaculate soul of the martyrs. 

     The ceremonies ended with congressional noon and afternoon prayers. 

     [Omitted passage on:   Hashemi Rafsanjani, Head of Assembly of Expediency, meets top commanders and personnel of the Army on the occasion of Fajr.   His speech was translated at the time from the daily news bulletins.   Also omitted passage on:   the Head of Army Ideological-Political Organization, Hojjat ol-Eslam val-Moslemin Dr Seyyed Mahmud Alavi, visits Army units stationed in the southern frontier areas]. 

     [Subhead] Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army visits First Naval Zone 

     Army Brigadier General Mostafa Torabipur, Deputy to the C-in-C of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, took part in ceremonies of the joint military morning prayers at the first Naval Zone at Bandar Abbas.   Army Brigadier General Torabipur was on an inspection tour of the first Naval Zone. 

     In an address during the ceremonies, Brigadier General Torabipur referred to the progress achieved at the first Naval Zone and said:   "The importance of the Persian Gulf zone and the strategic responsibility which the brave personnel of the first Naval Zone are shouldering could not be hidden to anybody." 

     He reminded his audience that during the imposed war, the bravery of the personnel of the navy, as demonstrated in action by Peykan frigate, eliminated the aggressor Baathist navy from the scene in the very beginning of the hostilities. 

     [Subhead] The second generation of Azarakhsh hunter planes and Tandar trainer planes will soon start their flight 

     In a press interview, Army 2nd Brigadier General Olfati, Deputy [Commander] in charge of Research and self-sufficiency Jihad of the Joint Staffs of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said that the second units [prototype] of Azarakhsh hunter plane and Tandar trainer plane would begin their flight next month and thus enter the fleet of the Air Force of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran.   [This does not seem to be the second generation of these planes and so the headline is not accurate].

     At the meeting deputies in charge of the research and self-sufficiency Jihad of the three forces of Ground Force, Air Force and Navy - 2nd Brigadier General Za'fari [not Ja'fari] deputy in charge of Ground Force Self-Sufficiency Jihad, 2nd Brigadier Bani-Tarafi deputy in charge of Air Force Self-Sufficiency Jihad, [2nd] Vice Admiral [Mahmud Tahqiqi] Bidel deputy in charge of Navy Self-Sufficiency Jihad and 2nd Brigadier Mokhtari, deputy commander in charge of Hava-niruz self-sufficiency Jihad - were also present. 

     According to the report of Saff correspondent, Army 2nd Brigadier Olfati added:   "The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran has more than one hundred projects at hand on attaining self-sufficiency.   These projects are development and manufacture of armour [plates], missiles and seafaring vessels covering the needs of the three forces." 

     He went on to say:   "Add the 100 projects at hand to the 400 projects already implemented and you will see that the self-sufficiency operations of the Army have made a tremendous contribution to domestic arms manufacturing and foreign exchange saving.   We hope that through transfer of such technology to the universities and other [civilian] research centres we could be able to bring about full severing of our dependence on foreigners [imports]." 

     At the same press conference Army 2nd Brigadier General Za'fari, deputy commander in charge of Ground Force Self-Sufficiency Jihad, referred to the research and development projects completed during the imposed war.   He then said that 10s of new projects were at hand including a project on manufacturing air filters as defence against chemical weapons, as well as projects on manufacturing of water filtering and guard towers of 25 metres height.   He cited three generations of Zolfaqar tanks (Zolfaqar 1, 2 and 3) as well as amphibious chemical defence systems and other weapons as the pride inspiring achievements of the Ground Force in the field of arms manufacturing and self-sufficiency during the imposed war and later on. 

     Army Brigadier Za'fari then described the characteristics of the armoured personnel carrier Sayyad which was developed and manufactured by the Ground Force's Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad.   He described Sayyad armoured reconnaissance and personnel carriers as having the capability of remaining out of the enemy fire range because of its low height.   It could also fire its own missiles against the enemy and as a result it had attack capability.   He also mentioned attack armoured vehicles as well as huge tank carriers manufactured by the Ground Force Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad.   Tank Carrier 400 has a capacity of 60 tons and can negotiate difficult and mountainous terrain with maximum ease.   He also referred to three-purpose command vehicles as another manufacture of the Ground Force; this vehicle can also carry personnel as well as equipment such as artillery pieces and grenade launchers.   Intelligent robots were also another achievement of the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad of the Ground Force. 

     Army 2nd Brigadier General Bani Tarafi, Deputy Commander in charge of the Air Force Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad was another speaker at the said press conference who enumerated the achievements of the Air Force.   Air to air refuelling, simulators for training missions, designing of electronics system for aircraft and air defence systems were among major achievements of the Air Force, he said.   The Air Force Research centre was also able to manufacture various communications and radar system and smart air-based missiles with automatic control.   Establishment of the flight physiology with all the necessary equipment for tower room was also a major achievement.   He said that to these must be added manufacture of equipment to absorb gravity, training pilots to use ejector seats and rescue operation to rescue crew members.   Finally, he said, the Air Force Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad was manufacturing hunter and trainer aircraft.   He said these achievements of the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad of the Islamic Republic of Iran had saved millions of dollars in foreign exchange expenditures. 

     Vice Admiral Bidel, Deputy Commander in charge of the Navy Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad was the next speaker who said that the unit under his command had implemented 28 short and long term projects.   Utilization of sea going craft and implementation of a project on optical fire control systems were other achievements.   He also said that a major achievement of the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran was to design and manufacture a range of military hardware parts and spares which are among embargoed items. 

     At the close of the press conference Army 2nd Brigadier General Mokhtari, Deputy Commander in charge of the Hava-niruz Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad referred to a project on simulators for all flying objects [as written].   The said project was being implemented in cooperation with the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad of the Air Force as well as the Industrial University of Sharif.   [According to Army command system, Hava-niruz is part of the Ground Force].   Other projects of Hava-niruz Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad included manufacture of bullet-proof cabins and also manufacture of the entire body of the Cobra helicopters.   He said the main contribution of Hava-niruz Self-Sufficiency Jihad was to manufacture 190,000 parts and spares for use in flights.   That capability has kept Hava-niruz going strong and even expand its operations [despite sanctions to deny acquisition of foreign made military parts by the Iranian military].   He said such a capability was the most important achievement of the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad of the Hava-niruz of the Army of Islamic Republic of Iran. 

     [Omitted passage on:   Ground Force Commander attends meeting of deputy heads of Ideological-Political offices and tells them achievement of unity between people and the army was a great contribution of revolution] 

     [Subhead] Ground Force Commander:   The Army is able to transfer military know how to other countries 

     Ceremonies were held to mark graduation and swearing in of the cadets of the Ground Force Military Academy.   Commander of the Ground Force, Army Brigadier General Purshasb and a number of high ranking military officers were present at the ceremonies.   (This news item was compiled before Brigadier Purshasb 's appointment as Chief of Army Joint Staffs). 

     Addressing the graduating cadets Brigadier Purshasb referred to the early years of the revolution and said that one major pride inspiring achievement of the revolution for the Army was the elimination of dependence on foreign powers.   Once the Army succeeded in cutting off its dependence on foreigners it began to develop its own talent and capabilities and stand on its own feet, he said. 

     "Today the Army has been successful in implementation of hundreds of defence and research projects to its credit," he said.   "Now the Army is in a position to export its military know how, accumulated from valuable contributions of its experts, to other countries of the world." 

     He said soon after the victory of the Islamic revolution, global arrogance imposed an unequal war on the country.   "Thanks to the wise leadership of Imam Khomeyni and the bravery of the personnel of the Army of Islamic Republic of Iran we managed to stand up and defeat the Baathist enemy and its arrogant supporters," he said. 

     Army Brigadier General Purshasb then declared that the Army and all other armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran were fully on guard to defend the homeland's frontiers as well as the sacred values.   "The Army and other branches of the armed forces were able to neutralise the recent plots of the arrogance aimed at perverting the revolutionary and young generations," he said.   He expressed hope that the Iranian youth would be on guard to detect enemy plots and avoid falling into the traps set by the West. 

     [Omitted passage on:   Ideological-Political units of Hava-niruz hold a gathering to commemorate the revolution anniversary] 

     [Subhead] Members of Saff editorial board meet deputy commander of Ground Force in charge of coordination 

     Members of the editorial board of Saff monthly [last month] met Army Brigadier General Javanmard, Deputy Commander of the Ground Force in charge of coordination.   The meeting, in which several other deputy commanders of the Ground Force also took part, was set up to bring about greater coordination in the field of the dissemination of information among the three forces [Air, Ground and Navy] of the Army. 

     At the said three-hour meeting the deputy head of the Army Ground Force Ideological-Political Office was also present.   At the meeting, editor of Saff explained the overall objectives of print media then said that print media played a special role in keeping members of the armed forces - spread all over the country - abreast of the latest developments and events.   He asked for cooperation of all the different units of the Ground Force and said their cooperation would enable Saff, as the Army's official printed means of communication, to accomplish its mission to the highest satisfaction of its readers.   [Omitted passage on:   Brigadier Javanmard said he would issue orders to all units to cooperate with Saff]. 

     [Subhead] Engineering corps to expedite clearing of minefields 

     In an interview with our correspondent, Army 2nd Brigadier General Abbas Nabizadeh, Deputy commander of the Ground Force in charge of operations, said that as many as 10 battalions of the Engineering Corps had been assigned to southern and western regions to clear the minefields situated on those border areas.   He said the that the present strength of the personnel engaged in mine clearing was high enough to expedite the operation. 

     Army 2nd Brigadier Nabizadeh said that thanks to the efforts of the personnel of the Army Engineering Corps up till now more than 7,700,000 anti-personnel and anti-tank mines as well as unexploded bombs have been cleared. 

     He added:   "We have 1.6 million hectares of infested area around the frontier regions; they were infested with mines as well as unexploded bombs.   Up till now we have managed to clear 700,000 hectares of the infested ground." 

     He added:   "That is a real feat in view of the vastness of the infested areas and the enormity of the number of mines planted.   According to the UN figures of 80 million mines planted all over the world, 16 million was in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran." 

     He then explained that even though engineering corps had the most advanced Iranian and foreign made mine clearing equipment, they have done a great task on account of the difficult geographic factors.   "The engineering personnel often could not have access to field maps where mines were planted," said.   "In many areas where they did have maps, they could not use them they were not any longer accurate.   As a result of rains, snow and other factors mines often shift from one place to another and that makes the task of engineering corps very difficult.   In fact, it was the expertise and dedication of the brave Iranian soldiers and engineers which made such a grave task possible." 

     He said the mine clearing operation has already cost the lives of 180 officers, NOCs and soldiers who were martyred while clearing the explosives.   In the same operations as many as 287 officers, NCOs and men were also injured, he said. 

     [Subhead] Ceremonies to remember civil and military martyrs 

     To honour civilian and military martyrs of Karkheh Nur and Hoveyzeh regions ceremonies were held at the ground of 16th Qazvin Armoured Division and its subsidiary units including the Third Armoured Brigade stationed in Hamadan, Zanjan and Manjil. 

     During the ceremonies a host of military and civilian officials as well as families of the martyrs were present.   Army Brigadier General Lotfi, the then Commander of the 16th Qazvin Division, who led the operations t the time, officiated at the ceremonies.   In his speech Brigadier Lotfi explained the nature of the operations and paid tribute to all the martyrs.

      At the end of the ceremonies, commanders during the operation as well as the families of martyrs received appreciation plaques. 

     [Omitted passage on:   Head of Ground Force Ideological-Political Force says that the military personnel should learn lessons of bravery from the immaculate Imam, His Holiness Ali.   Omitted also passage on:   Housing project for 21st Hamzeh Division of Tabriz.   Also Omitted passage on:   Commending Qor'an recitation experts of 77th Khorasan Division.   Omitted also passage on completion of a power station built by the Ground Force for the township of Khash in Sistan.   Also omitted passage on Army Deputy Head of Ideological-Political Office visiting Semnan air defence system]. 

     [Subhead] Iran will strongly defend her legitimate rights in the Caspian Sea 

     The monthly session of the Political Awareness Course for the commanders and clerics of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran was held at the Assembly Hall of Al-Nabi Mosque at the GHQ of the Air Force. 

     Dr Maleki [first name not given], a member of the International Advisory Group of the Office of the leadership, spoke on the political geography of the Caspian Sea and its economic and legal implications. 

     Referring to the share of each littoral state in benefits from the Caspian Sea, Dr Maleki underlined the situation of Russia and Iran as the largest states on the Caspian Sea zone and said:   "Iran, while respecting the legitimate interests of other littoral states and while extending a cooperative hand, would rely on her own immense strength to defend her legitimate rights and interests in that sea." 

     [Subhead] Navy Commander:   To set up a viable security strategy in our territorial waters and at sea we must bring our merchant and military fleets closer together 

     At the second seminar on National Naval Industries, Rear Admiral Abbas Mohtaj, Commander of the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said that merchant and military navies must work in close cooperation.   That was necessary for strategic and security considerations as well as for giving greater dynamism to the Iranian naval capability. 

     A host of military and civil officials from a number of ministries as well as the private sector were present at the seminar, which was held in Tehran. 

     "Today is the right time to make the best use of available opportunities in international fields," he said. 

     He said already the private sector had made substantial investments in industries associated with naval affairs.   He also stressed that the necessary ground for cooperation between the civilian and military investors in these fields had been created.   "The Navy has, in fact, entrusted the manufacturing side of the naval industries to the private sector," he said.   "Therefore, we must bring the merchant and military navies in both the private and the public sectors closer together.   That way we can create the needed structure to inspire greater dynamism in economic and industrial fields and at the same time to achieve our security objectives in a better way." 

     The Navy Commander then referred to the pivotal position of the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region and its role in maintaining security on a global scale and said:   "We must attain two main pillars of Soundness and Security.   These are the two elements which His Holiness the Prophet has mentioned.   Our society must strive to achieve these two elements now more than at any other time.   We must develop a naval power with healthy structure, equipped with science and technology and assisted by modern equipment as well as advanced strategies and tactics.   Such a force will have rapid reaction capability.   To attain those objectives we must have faith, religion, unanimity of word and common national objectives." 

     [Subhead] Navy to offer missiles systems next year 

     Army [not belonging to IRGC] 2nd Vice Admiral Engineer Mahmud Tahqiqi Bidel, in an interview with our correspondent, spoke on the achievements of the Navy Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad of the Navy.   He said:   "With divine assistance, we shall be able to offer a missile systems next year which would be a source of pride to the nation." 

     He said that the Navy Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad had made best use of the fruits of research made by other universities and research centres in its operation to design, manufacture and repair its sea going vessels. 

     Other achievements of the Navy's Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad, after the end of the imposed war, included designing of fire control (C4) systems, electronics equipment and improving on signalling and computer use, he said. 

     [Omitted passage on:   Minister of Industries speaking at the second National Naval Industries commending the work of the Navy.   Also omitted passage on:   Head of the Navy Ideological-Political Office visits Sirjan and Bandar Abbas naval bases]

      end

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