The recent unrest in the province of Khuzestan has spread rapidly and Islamic regime is finding it difficult to contain the situation. Meanwhile, whenever the Islamic regime has experienced problems in delivering services including health, floods, earth quick, shortage of water and other crisis, and when commanders of the Revolutionary Guards and Basij could no offer solution, the regime has turned to and used Artesh (Armed Forces) commanding officers to resolve issues.
One such officer who has very high standing among Iranian is Admiral Habibollah Sayyari. IRNA’s political correspondent, Sunday July 25, 1400, reported on a conference when Admiral Sayyari, deputy commander in cheif of Artesh, was addressing the 15th fundamental combat conference at the Army’s Martyrs Foundation. The Admiral amongst other issues stated, “The country’s borders are safe, and the army is ready to defend the country’s borders, including land, see and air (1).”
Having said that, Admiral Sayyari has repeatedly emphasized on budget shortfalls for the Artesh, lack of up-to-date equipment and salaries and income supports for personnel. He noted in his talk “The army has also taken decisive measures in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic under the motto of “Artesh for The People”. He further stated since March 2019, Artesh has provided hospitals with medical staff to speed up vaccination in several medical centers.”
Admiral Sayyari has added the speed of vaccination is very much dependent on the number of vaccines doses made available by the Health Ministry. That is, Artesh can help with vaccinations if there is a vaccine available to be used! The outbreak of the coronavirus started in Iran due to the unrestricted flights by Mahan Airliner to China, whilst outbreak in China was raging. This was further exacerbated, by the ongoing Fajr ceremony at the time. The spread of the virus in Iran, at that period, was kept secret by direct order from Khamenei until the death toll from the virus reached an alarming climax.
Iran has a very well-equipped National Health Service, if permitted, it can cope with providing the necessary services and, with the support of the army, would have been able to contain the pandemic. However, due to Khamenei’s strict orders not to import vaccines from the West, and in addition, arrival of the latest Indian Delta version to Iran, an alarming number of Iranian are perishing daily; more than 100 people die every day in Tehran.
IRNA news agency has further reported, by command of the Commander in Chief of the Artesh, Admiral Sayyari, was assigned to oversee Sistan and Baluchistan draught and water shortage. He has managed setting up field hospitals and managing the provision of water and sanitation facilities. The valuable measures taken in Sistan and Baluchistan has resolved the issues to people satisfaction! Further he has stated, “It is our honor to help people where people need help, i.e., water supply issues and unrest in the province of Khuzestan.”
In a further interview (2) Sayyari tells the military commanders, the Iranian people expect us to work towards Iran’s future prosperity, and maintain the country’s position in the international arena at a high level, where it has been and should be.
Admiral Sayyari said “The armed forces, which have experienced eight years of holy defense, can stands against any enemy and maintain the country’s territorial integrity.” His remark refers to the unrest in Khuzestan where some opportunists has hoisted the banner of secession. The Admiral has this message for secessionists that, the Iranian Artesh, according to its coat of arms, will protect the territorial integrity of Iran and will not allow the enemies of Iran to destroys its territorial integrity. Admiral Sayyari added, the armed forces with the mission of maintaining territorial integrity and defending national sovereignty, will stand against any threat, and with confidence and vigor declare “no enemy is allowed to attack Iran interests and its territorial integrity.”
As noted above, whenever the Islamic regime has lost control of situations, when people have been demanding their human right and legitimate right to citizenship, the enemies of Iran have attempted and seized opportunity to raise voice for secession. The Iranian armed forces, despite sever lack of funding for up-to-date equipment and training, remains steadfast in defending the integrity of Iran, and protecting the people in times of crisis.
Admiral Sayyari recalls the valuable experiences gained during Iran-Iraq war, despite Ayatollah Khomeini killing and dismissing Artesh high ranking qualified personnel, which left the structure of armed forces vulnerable. He stated Artesh was able to defeat and drive Saddam’s strong army out of Iran. In his talk, Admiral Sayyari reiterated the regime’s lack of provision for the Iran’s Artesh and said the issue of supplying up-to-date, advanced, and responsive equipment should not be overlooked. “We must strive to make the Artesh equipment as one of the components of combat capability, readiness and deterrence. Future combat readiness against threats, needs appropriate equipment and training. We cannot claim that our combat capability is high at present, and in this regard, we are behind the world’s”, he said.
Sayyari also reiterated the coronavirus outbreak and said that the army’s efforts at the Imam Reza Biological Defense Headquarters prevented damage on the Artesh personnel and its manpower capability. He added in March 2020, the enemy was regarding our barracks the most vulnerable locations for outbreak of corona virus. However, with appropriate and decisive measures, we proved it otherwise and barracks remained the safest to date. At the time, rhetoric was coming from the Revolutionary Guards, who were throwing at him many kinds of unjust accusations.
Considering the actions of the Artesh during the outbreak of various natural crisis, personnel of Artesh has been instrumental in assisting people and in this respect have gained much experience and credibility. Therefore, whenever the Artesh has been deployed to deal with crisis, they have been welcomed by the people and allowed to offer solution to crisis. The personnel of Artesh are proud in performing their duties, including protecting Iran’s borders, territorial integrity, protecting national sovereignty, and will stand by the people when necessary.
Captain Mohammad Farsi
July 26, 2021
https://www.irna.ir/news/84415284/ (۱)
https://www.irna.ir/news/84415201/ (۲)
