IRGC commander says Iran will not yield to enemy, citing Sacred Defense legacy

Brigadier General Mohammad Karami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces, said on [date] that Iran will not yield to its enemies, drawing a parallel with the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, known in Iran as the Sacred Defense. He made the remarks during a visit to operational bases in the northwestern regions of the country, where he commemorated the martyrs of the eight-year conflict.

"Relying upon the assistance of the God Almighty, we will not yield even an iota to the enemy—just as we did during the Sacred Defense—and the future belongs to the Islamic Iran and heroic nation of the country," Karami said, according to Mehr News Agency (MNA).

Earlier, General Karami had stated that Iran's Armed Forces would respond with force to any miscalculation by the enemy, citing divine will and the support of the Iranian people. His comments come amid ongoing regional tensions and are part of a series of statements by Iranian military officials emphasizing the country's defensive readiness.

The visit to the northwestern bases is part of regular inspections by IRGC commanders. The northwestern region of Iran has seen periodic security incidents, and the IRGC maintains a significant presence there. The Sacred Defense Week, during which these remarks were made, commemorates the sacrifices of the Iran-Iraq war and is marked annually with military parades and speeches.

According to Mehr News Agency, General Karami's statements reflect the official position of the IRGC, which has consistently warned against external threats. The report added that the commander's remarks were made during a ceremony honoring the martyrs, underscoring the continued emphasis on the legacy of the war in Iran's military doctrine.