The following is a collection of MEMRI TV clips from the MEMRI Iran Studies Project in 2022. Producing such content is very costly, and your help allows us to continue our vital work of supporting counterterrorism efforts in the U.S. and throughout the West. We are very grateful to those of our valued readers who have already donated this year, and ask those who have not yet done so to please consider making a tax-deductible donation now.
The following are MEMRI TV clips from Iran in 2022:
Iranian imam Nassir Hosseini said in a Friday, March 18, 2022 sermon which aired on Dena TV (Iran) that Iran has the intelligence and capability to carry out any necessary counterattacks inside Tel Aviv or America. He said that Israel is taking its last breaths and that America is no longer a superpower, and that the Zionists cannot "measure up" to the Iranians. For more information about Nassir Hosseini, see MEMRI TV Clip No. 8551.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a November 2, 2022 address that was aired on Channel 1 (Iran) that the Iranian nation has defeated America. He said that in the upcoming world order, America will be unimportant and isolated, and he promised his audience that the "Death to America!" slogan that they chant will come true. Female students in the crowd, wearing traditional Iranian chadors, chanted "Death to America!" several times throughout the speech.
On January 12, 2022, an animation depicting the targeted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump by Iran was uploaded to Khamenei.ir, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's official website. The animation depicts a small unmanned ground vehicle approaching a golf course at Mar-A-Lago, disabling the security cameras, entering the premises, and using a laser to guide a missile strike against a golfing Donald Trump. Prior to the strike, an Iranian soldier is seen in a control room with orders from Khamenei to kill Trump. The animation ends with a screen that says: "Revenge is definite."
On November 17, 2022, Channel 3 (Iran) aired a documentary about Iran's drone industry. An unidentified IRGC member said that Iran has drones with a range of 3,000 kilometers and that are highly accurate. He also said that if there is ever a situation in which hostile warships are permanently deployed in the Persian Gulf, Iran would destroy all the American bases in the region. He explained that Iran would "leave no trace" of them in the region and that Iran would be able to do this with less than 30% of its capabilities. The documentary also featured pioneers of Iran's drone industry, as well as current IRGC drone teams.
IRGC Qods Force commander General Esmail Qaani said in an April 29, 2022 International Quds Day address at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, Iran that Israel is made up of people who have nothing to do with the land of Palestine, who have violence as part of their very being, who have killed and deported the native Palestinian population, and who were given the name "the Jewish people" by those who brought them to Palestine. He said that these people are at the root of all strife in the world and, citing the Islamic Republic of Iran's founder and previous leader Ruhollah Khomeini, he said that Israel is a "cancerous growth" that must be "erased." General Qaani also said that the Jews living in Israel should return to their countries of origin, and that International Quds Day will continue until Israel is annihilated. In addition, he said that the "resistance axis" is stronger than ever before. General Qaani has served as the commander of the IRGC's Qods Force since the former commander, General Qasem Soleimani, was killed in a U.S. airstrike on January 3, 2020. The speech aired on Khorasan Razavi TV (Iran). For more about General Qaani, see MEMRI TV Clips No. 9217, 8885, and 8583.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said, in a November 19, 2022 address that aired on Channel 1 (Iran), that the fact that Iran is advancing and flourishing is "intolerable and unbearable" for the West and for the "arrogant" United States. He said that all the pressure Iran is facing is because it has been advancing and because it has stood up to the West's "bullying," and he criticized all the American presidents since Jimmy Carter for opposing Iran. He also referred to U.S. President Joe Biden as a "demented guy," and he told the audience to "turn" all their shouts against America. The audience chanted: "Death to America!"
Iranian researcher of Islamic history Heshmatollah Ghanbari said in a July 2, 2022 public address that aired on Kerman TV (Iran) that God has sent IRGC Qods Force Commander General Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated in a U.S. airstrike in January 2020, to crush America's throat. He also said that America's "prestige and reputation" will soon be destroyed, adding that the American "hegemonic regime" has never been so passive and shattered as it is today.
Former Iranian Majles member Ali Motahari said in an April 24, 2022 interview on ISCA News (Iran) that when Iran began developing its nuclear program, the goal was to build a nuclear bomb. He said that there is no need to beat around the bush, and that the bomb would have been used as a "means of intimidation" in accordance with a Quranic verse about striking "fear in the hearts of the enemies of Allah."
He said that the nuclear bomb program would have been "a done deal" if Iran had kept it a secret until a nuclear test was conducted, like Pakistan did, and he explained that in such a case, Iran would have been "taken into consideration" by the world even more than it is today.
When asked if saying this publicly will negatively affect the ongoing JCPOA negotiations, Motahari answered: "Nobody notices what I am saying." He also said that he is speaking on his own behalf, and not in any official capacity. Later in the interview, Motahari said that some people rely on the Quranic verse about striking fear into the hearts of Allah's enemies to permit the construction of a nuclear bomb, but that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's current position is that it is forbidden to build a nuclear weapon.
On May 28, 2022, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a report about a "top-secret" UAV base reportedly located hundreds of meters underground somewhere in the Zagros Mountains. General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, told the reporter that he is the first journalist allowed entry into the facility, and that drone and missile capabilities can determine who wins the battle in today's "hybrid wars."
The reporter said that the base contains hundreds of combat, reconnaissance, and "suicide" drones, some of which he said can operate from the base and from other underground bases for 24 hours straight without returning to base. He also described some of the drones and their capabilities, including: the Ababil-5 drone, which he said can take off from 500-meter runways and fire the Ghaem-9 missile, which he said is comparable to the American Hellfire missile; the Kaman-22 drone, which he said is a "strategic" drone with a range of at least 2,000 kilometers, and which he said fires the Heydar-cruise missile, making it the first drone to fire cruise missiles; and the Fotros drones, which he said have a range of at least 200 kilometers and are equipped with Ghaem laser-guided bombs and Almas missiles.
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, the Editor-in-Chief of Iran Diplomatic, said in a September 9, 2022 interview on Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) show that Iran has crossed the nuclear threshold and that it can produce a nuclear weapon within a matter of two or three days if the "political decision" is made. He also said that since they left the JCPOA, the U.S. has lost all of its bargaining chips in the nuclear talks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei's representative in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, Nassir Hosseini, said in a Friday, November 11, 2022 sermon in Yasuj, Iran that Iran's new Ghaem-100 satellite missile launcher can also function as an ICBM that can strike the United States, as well as targets in space. He explained that the missile has a range of 12,000 kilometers, which is enough to reach the United States, and he said that this is a "message" for Iran's enemies. He added that Iran's enemies, and particularly Israel, England, the U.S, and the "criminal Saud clan," know that if they make "even the slightest mistake," Iran's response will be "harsh and destructive." For more about Nassir Hosseini, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 9455 and 8551. For more about the Ghem-100 satellite launcher and its capabilities, see MEMRI TV Clip No. 9932.
In a Friday, January 21, 2022 sermon in Qaleh Raisi, Iran that was aired on Dena TV (Iran), the preacher Esmail Salavati said that revenge for the death of Qasem Soleimani is the "inalienable right" of the Islamic nation. He said that many people around the world are waiting for former U.S. President Trump and former Secretary of State Pompeo to be "dispatched to Hell," and he added that American officials need to know that they are targets whenever they go on missions abroad. Salavati made his remark in response to U.S. congressmen's call to stop the nuclear negotiations following the posting of an animated video showing the assassination of President Trump on Khaemeni's website and social media channels – See MEMRI TV clip 9303.
In a November 13, 2022 morning show on Channel 5 (Iran), viewers were invited to answer a quiz with a cash prize of 200,000 toman about how long it would take a Sejjil missile to cross the distance between Tehran and Tel Aviv. For more about Iran's Sejjil missile, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 9850, 9409, 8620, 8460, 7601, 7026, 4603, and 1918.
Mehdi Bakhtiari, who is the editor of the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency's political and military desk, said in a November 13, 2022 show on Channel 1 (Iran) that the claims that Iran's space program is just a cover for its military activities are "laughable." He said that Iran's military technologies are much more advanced than its space program, and he explained that when Iran built its first satellite launcher, it simultaneously attained the ability to build intercontinental ballistic missiles. He said that Iran's missiles are limited to a range of 2,000 kilometers because this is what its military doctrine dictates, but that as soon as it chooses, Iran can build an ICBM with a range of 8,000 kilometers capable of carrying a warhead weighing several hundred kilograms. In addition, he said that in a few years, Iran will complete building the Ghaem-120 satellite launcher, which will be able to launch satellites to an altitude of 36,000 kilometers.
#9719 – Shi'ite Children In Houston, Texas Sing: [Khamenei] Is Calling On His Children, His Soldiers
On July 27, 2022, a video was posted to the IslamicTV YouTube channel of Shiite children in Houston, TX performing a song titled "Salute, Commander," which is an Iranian children's anthem pledging allegiance to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The video had been first posted by the Islamic Education Center of Houston, TX, on its Facebook and YouTube accounts, but these posts were later removed. The children performed the song in English and Farsi. The song's lyrics say: "[Khamenei] is calling on his children, his soldiers... In spite of my age, I will be your army's commander...May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, I will sacrifice everything for you...I make an oath to be your martyr, Ali." The song's original Farsi lyrics include a pledge to follow in the footsteps of IRGC Qods Force Commander General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2020. In February 2019, the Islamic Education Center of Houston had held a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. At the ceremony, children sang: "Khamenei is our leader, we are his soldiers." For more information about the ceremony, see MEMRI TV Clip No 7081.
Mohammad-Javad Larijani, an Iranian official who has formerly served as an advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and as Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, said in a November 8, 2022 interview on Channel 1 (Iran) that Germany and Canada are in no position to preach to Iran about human rights violations surrounding the recent anti-regime protests. He elaborated that racism and antisemitism are in the "blood" of the Germans, and he said that in contrast, Muslims only oppose Zionism, since the Zionists are secular and control brothels, casinos, and other "means of corruption" in the world. He also explained that Canada has ethnically cleansed its indigenous population, and he spoke about Canada's residential school scandal. In addition, Larijani said that Western leaders are "megalomaniacal, self-centered, and extremely narcissistic." Larijani also spoke about claims that Iran has supplied Russia with drones used in the war in Ukraine, and he said that Iranian-made drones cost no more than $15,000 per unit. In contrast, he claimed that the U.S.-made Stinger missiles used to intercept them cost $1.3 million per unit. For more about Larijani, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 9856, 9699, 8986, 8482, 8247, 7611, 7604, 7299, 6622, 1456, and 1168.
On Friday, November 4, 2022, Abdollah Haji Sadeghi, who is Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's representative in the IRGC, delivered a sermon at the Shahcheragh Shrine in Shiraz, which was the site of a shooting attack that claimed the lives of at least 15 Iranians last month. He said that Iran will not rest until Israel and America are destroyed and until the "flag of truth and justice is raised all over the world." Sadeghi's sermon was aired on Fars TV (Iran).
On November 6, 2022, Channel 2 (Iran) aired a report in which Iran unveiled the new Sayyad 4B missile, for use in the locally-made Bavar-373 air defense system. According to the report, the missile has a range of 300 kilometers, has been tested against Karrar-type drones, and is being deployed in the northern area of the Persian Gulf, covering the entire area. Speaking about the missile, Iranian Minister of Defense Mohammad-Reza Gharaei Ashtiani said that many technologically advanced countries wish they had such a system. For more about the Bavar-373 air defense, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 8228 and 7435.
On October 31, 2022, a video was posted to the IRGC's Telegram channel showing videos and aerial photographs of Israel, of U.S. CENTCOM "terrorist" bases in the Middle East, and of a "training camp" belonging to the Mujahideen-e-Khalq "terrorist group." The video also shows a hanger full of attack drones, and it ends with a caption: "It is only our will that keeps us from firing."
Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi said in an October 22, 2022 public address aired on IRINN TV (Iran) that when he travels abroad, he is approached by foreign leaders who ask to purchase Iranian-made military equipment. He compared this to the past, when countries were not even willing to sell barbed wire to Iran, and he said that the foreign leaders want Iranian military products because they are "more advanced" than equipment in the rest of the world.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in an October 19, 2022 address that was aired on Channel 1 (Iran) that in the past, the West had dismissed Iran's missile and drone technologies, but that today admits that they are very dangerous and complains about Iran supplying them to "so-and-so." It should be noted that Khamenei's statement may be a reference to recent reports that Russia has been using Iranian-made drones in Ukraine. Khamenei also said that the drones are the pride of Iran. Later in the address, he said that industrial use of nuclear energy has increased throughout the world, and that if Iran had not begun developing its nuclear project many years ago, it would have had to do so now and suffer the consequences of being so far behind the rest of the world.
Iranian scholar and strategist Alireza Panahian, co-founder of the Ammar think tank, said in an October 6, 2022 public address which was aired on Channel 3 (Iran) that according to Islamic tradition, the Iranians will annihilate Israel and become the "masters of the world." He said that according to commentators on the Quran, Iranians will ravage the homes of Israelis, annihilate them, and finish them off. Panahian went on to say that according to Islamic tradition, this will happen before the rise of the Mahdi and before the appearance of the Hidden Imam, the rulers of the entire world will be Iranians. He added that all the "free nations" of the world, the Yemenis, Iraqis, Syrians, and Lebanese, are proud of these traditions, and that the Iranians will liberate the world. Panahian further said that the "wanning" Western civilization has no choice but to be annihilated in confrontation with Iran. For more information about Alireza Panahian, see MEMRITV Clip No. 8158.
Former Iranian Ambassador to Mexico and Australia Mohammad-Hassan Ghadiri-Abyaneh said in a show on Ofogh TV (Iran) that was aired on September 9, 2022, one day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, that the United Kingdom's political parties, royal family, and economy are controlled by the Zionists and the Jews. He also said that the Talmud and Jewish law do not permit Jewish women to marry non-Jewish men, but that an exception is made when the non-Jewish men are rich or powerful because then the Jews can increase their wealth and influence by inheriting it from non-Jews.
He then claimed that Kate Middleton, the wife of the new British heir-apparent Prince William, is Jewish, and he said that she is married to him as part of a Jewish scheme to inherit the royal family's riches. In addition, he claimed that the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is also part of a Jewish plot to increase the share of the royal wealth that the Jews will inherit. Moreover, he claimed that when a Jew marries into a powerful non-Jewish family such as the British royal family, members of the family start dying more frequently. For more about Ghadiri-Abayaneh, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 998, 8918, 9365.
On September 22, 2022, Channel 1 (Iran) aired footage from an Iranian military parade marking the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War. At the parade, cadets from the IRGC's military academy marched and chanted: "Death to America! We are the conquerors of Jerusalem, the destroyers of Haifa… Death to Israel! We are on our way to liberate Palestine." The parade's announcer praised the IRGC, and particularly the members of its Aerospace Force, including for being a "constant nightmare" for Zionism, and he said that the day is near when they will annihilate Israel. He also said: "We will trample America underfoot. [It] is the Great Satan [and] we will bring Satan to his knees." Later in the parade, various Iranian weapon systems were showcased, including the Khaybar Shekan ("Khaybar Crusher") ballistic missile, the Rezvan ballistic missile, the Ghadr H ballistic missile, the Emad ballistic missile, the Sejjil ballistic missile, the Ra'd-85 suicide drone, and the Arash suicide drone.
Iranian preacher Abolfazl Razavi Ardakani said in a Friday, September 9, 2022 sermon in Shiraz, Iran that the "fatwa" issued by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei banning nuclear weapons was meant only "for its time," and that Khamenei can "change his mind." He said that certain war tactics are permitted if they are the "only way to prevail." He elaborated that nuclear weapons are only forbidden when one's enemies do not use them, and he questioned if Iran must "stand idly by" if its enemies use nuclear weapons. In addition, he said that Khamenei may give the order to enrich uranium to 90%, and that Khamenei knows "perfectly well" when to issue his edicts. Ardakani emphasized that according to Islamic law, the fatwas of Islamic scholars are not permanent, and can be rescinded by the scholars who issued them. It is important to note that despite Iranian claims, Khamenei has never issued a fatwa banning nuclear weapons. For more information, see Appendix I in MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1567 and MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1022. The sermon was aired on Fars TV (Iran).
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On September 9, 2022, IRINN (Iran) aired a report about the Arash-2 suicide drone, which participated in a recent exercise held by the ground forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The report showed the Arash-2 on display at an exhibit in Isfahan, and the ground forces' General Commander General Kioumars Heydari was shown telling commander of the IRGC's Khatem Al-Anbiya Central Command General Gholamali Rashid that it has a range of 2000 kilometers and is the best precision-strike drone that exists. In a September 11, 2022 interview aired on Channel 1 (Iran) about the drone, General Heydari said that the drone was specifically designed to strike the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa, and that it belongs to Iran's "framework" for destroying the "child-killing Zionist regime." For more information about General Gholamli Rashid, see MEMRITV clips Nos. 9099 and 8174.
Abbas Haji Najjari, who serves as an advisor to the cultural deputy of the Iranian Chief-of-Staff, said in a November 14, 2022 interview on Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) that the Western "powers of arrogance" are behind the riots in Iran. He said that "the enemy" wants to cause an internal war in Iran by using "terrorist groups" based in Iraqi Kurdistan, and he explained that this is why Iran recently carried out strikes against targets in Iraqi Kurdistan (see MEMRI TV Clip No. 9936). Najjari also said that Israel extremely afraid of Iran and that because in recent military exercises, Iran's armed forces effectively targeted a model of the Dimona nuclear reactor. He added that all of Israel's "sensitive facilities" are within Iran's reach. In addition, he said that all the American bases in the region are within Iran's range and that this is one of the reasons that the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Abolfazl Zohrevand, an Iranian diplomat who has served as Iran's Ambassador to Italy and to Afghanistan, said in a September 5, 2022 interview on Ofogh TV (Iran) that the Zionist regime is responsible for some of the "developments" in Ukraine. He said that Ukraine is the next country the Zionists plan to "flee to" and to settle, and he asserted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been charged with this mission. He also referred to the Russian claim that the U.S. has biolabs for producing WMDs in Ukrainian territory.
On August 24, 2022, IRINN (Iran) aired a report about the first-ever multibranch UAV exercise held by the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The exercise involved 150 drones from four of the Army's branches, and the report showed footage from the Army's UAV Base 313, which houses over 100 drones. It also described the operations of the Kaman-12 and Kaman-22 reconnaissance drones, of monitoring stations located in the Anark area, and of the Omid suicide drone, which it compared to the Israeli-made Harop drone used by Azerbaijan. General Hamid Vahedi, the Commander of the Army's Air Force, said that the drones are equipped with missiles and bombs produced by Iran's Ministry of Defense.
The following day, Channel 1 (Iran) also aired a report about the exercise. This report showcased the following drones: the Ababil-4; the Arash; the long-range Bavar-5 drone, which has classified capabilities; and the vertical-take-off Homa drone. The drones were being launched from the deck of the Lavan battleship in the northern Indian Ocean. In addition, the report showed the Chamroush and Zhubin drones being launched from a Fateh-class submarine, and it showed Karrar bomber drones being prepared for launch. Moreover, it showcased Omid drones and the Mohajer drones, which carry Almas and Ghaem missiles.
#9817 – Iran TV Special: Queen Elizabeth Was On Par With Hitler, Her Death Is Good News
On September 9, 2022, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a special following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Show host Pejman Karimi said that the Queen's death was "good news" for the oppressed people of the world, and Iranian academic Foad Izadi of Tehran University's Global Studies Department compared the Queen to Adolf Hitler, saying that she was "one of the greatest criminals in the history of mankind." For more about Foad Izadi, see MEMRI TV clips nos. 8789, 8598, 8180, 7919, and 7837.
On September 5, 2022, Channel 2 (Iran) aired a report about a recently-launched 67-meter-long IRGC Navy patrol ship called the Martyr Soleimani. According to the report, the Martyr Soleimani is the first Iranian vessel made with a non-corrosive aluminum alloy hull instead of a steel hull, and its catamaran design and unusual angles give it the radar signature of a small yacht. The report featured a brief interview with IRGC Navy Commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, and said that the ship features a helicopter pad and classified defense systems that include vertically-launched anti-aircraft missiles, enabling the vessel to provide anti-air cover for missile-bearing speedboats. The report compared the 'Martyr Soleimani' to trimaran boats used by the U.S. Navy, and said that Iran is one of only three countries in the world to have a vessel of this type. In addition, the reporter said that the ship has been deployed with the IRGC Navy's southern fleet, that U.S. CENTCOM has admitted that Iran has air superiority in the Persian Gulf, and that this makes Iran the "ultimate power in the region." For more information about Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, see MEMRI TV clips nos. 9294, 8748, 8316, 7416, 7213, and 7190.
On August 17, 2022, Etemadonline.com posted an interview with Iranian economist Saeed Laylaz, who has served as an advisor to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. Laylaz said that Iran must not renew its commitment to the JCPOA since Iran is much safer with the ability to build a nuclear bomb, and he described this ability as a "geo-political shield." He speculated that while the U.S. may be hesitant to attack Iran because it is juggling its relationships with the Arab countries, Israel would hesitate much less if it felt the need to attack and would not feel obligated by the JCPOA even if a new agreement is reached. He also said that he believes Iran has already crossed the "nuclear breakthrough threshold." Laylaz emphasized that Iran's enriched uranium is an important deterrent, and he said that stability only comes from the "muzzle of a cannon."
Dr. Mohammad Sadegh Koushki from the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran said in an August 15, 2022 show on Ofogh TV (Iran) that British-American author Salman Rushdie, who survived a recent assassination attempt, has already been a "dead man walking" since Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued the fatwa calling for his death after the publication of The Satanic Verses. Dr. Koushki said that Rushdie has been unhappy, sleepless, and tormented since the fatwa was issued, and he praised Khomeini's "wisdom" in issuing the fatwa to prevent further insults to Islam. He also said that Rushdie will go to Hell, and that Khomeini's fatwa had merely been an articulation of the Islamic punishment for apostasy.
In an August 20, 2022 show on NBN TV (Lebanon), Iranian journalist Mohammad Gharavi spoke about pursuing nuclear weapons, and he said that some regime officials have begun advocating for the development of a nuclear bomb. When asked by the show's host about an alleged fatwa by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei banning nuclear weapons, Gharavi answered that the fatwa is open to interpretation by Islamic scholars, and that the fatwa is subject to change depending on the circumstances. He also said that Khamenei's alleged fatwa should only be relied upon if the U.S. is acting honestly. For more about the subject and about Khamenei's fatwa, which does not actually exist, see MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1648.
Iranian TV host Mohsen Maghsoudi said in an August 14, 2022 show on Channel 1 (Iran) that the recent attempt on the life of British-American novelist Salman Rushdie was "welcome" and that he is very happy to see that the "historical" fatwa by Imam Khomeini calling for Rushdie's death following the publication of The Satanic Verses is still "alive." He also said that the "blessed" attack was a warning for those who support "cultural terrorism" and "harm" things that are sacred to Muslims worldwide. In addition, he said that it was also a warning to those behind the 2020 U.S. assassination of IRGC Qods Force Commander Qasem Soleimani. He elaborated that revenge is near and that these people should not sleep too soundly.
Dr. Emad Abshenas, an Iranian political analyst who serves as the head of the Iranian Research Centers Union, said in an August 12, 2022 show on Alghad TV (UAE/Egypt) that Iran has placed former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Advisor John Bolton, as well as "all of CENTCOM," on its terror list for their role in the January 2020 assassination of IRGC Qods Force Commander Qasem Soleimani. He said that Pompeo and Bolton would have already been dead if Iran wanted to assassinate them, but that Iran wants to take them to trial in the international courts, since simply killing them would be "letting them off the hook." He also claimed that Pompeo has lost over 100lbs out of fear of being assassinated by Iran. This came following an August 10, announcement by the U.S. DOJ that a member of the IRGC was charged with a plot to assassinate Pompeo and Bolton.
According to various news reports, the Bisimchi Media Telegram channel, which according to media reports is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), posted a video titled "When Will Iran's Nuclear Bombs Wake Up from Their Sleep?" on July 29, 2022. The video describes "Project Emad," which is Iran's plan to transform its "peaceful" nuclear program into an "atomic military program" in the event of an Israeli or Western attack, and it describes how Iran would make Israel and the West's "nightmare" come true in the blink of an eye. In addition, the video says that if the Natanz nuclear facility, which is vulnerable, is targeted by an attack, then the underground Fordo facilities will go into battle readiness and rapidly begin producing nuclear weapons. Moreover, the video warned that in the case of "hostile measures" on the part of America, Iran's ICBMs will turn New York into a "heap of rubble from Hell."
On July 16, 2022, IRINN TV (Iran) aired a report about the newly-formed naval drone carrier division operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, which is subordinate to the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The report showed drones being launched from the Iranian ships IRIS Delvar and IRIS Lavan at the command of Commodore Shahram Irani, the Navy's commander, during a drill meant to integrate Iran's new "naval drone carrier division" into the Iranian military and into Iran's "defensive structure." The reporter said that the new division consists of seven vessels, including underwater vessels, and he described the capabilities of the Ababil-4 drone and the Ababil-2 "combat" drone, which he said came from a recently-launched production line in Tajikistan (see MEMRI TV Clip No. 9572). The commander of Iran's Army, General Abdolrahim Mousavi, said that the new drone carrier capabilities increase Iran's surveillance and area control range by hundreds of kilometers, extending Iran's "long arm." In addition, the reporter said that some of the carrier-launched drones return to their mother ships after their missions, while others land at tarmacs elsewhere.
In a July 18, 2022 interview on Russia Today TV, former Iranian diplomat Amir Mousavi was asked about the validity of senior Iranian official Kamal Kharrazi's previous-day statement on Al-Jazeera Network that Iran is a nuclear threshold country and that it has the ability to produce nuclear weapons (see MEMRI TV Clip No. 9694). Mousavi responded that there is no doubt that Iran can produce nuclear weapons. He added that there is pressure from inside Iran and from the region to change Khamenei's fatwa banning nuclear weapons and that this may lead to reconsideration of the alleged fatwa. (see MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1022 and No. 1151). He explained that Iran has thus far refrained from producing nuclear weapons due to its "moral values" and its "principles," but that Iran's leadership is under domestic and regional pressure from its supporters to reconsider this policy.
Kamal Kharrazi, a foreign policy advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei who also serves as the chairman of the Iranian Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, said in a July 17, 2022 interview on Al-Jazeera Network (Qatar) that Iran is now a nuclear threshold state and has the ability to produce a nuclear bomb. He explained that Iran can also rapidly raise its level of uranium enrichment to 90%. In addition, Kharrazi said that Iran has good relations with the UAE, but that the latter's normalization of relations with Israel was a mistake, and that an Israeli attack on Iran from UAE territory would lead to direct retaliation against both the UAE and Israel. Moreover, Kharrazi said that Iran has been conducting military drills simulating attacks deep inside Israeli territory in the event that Israel attacks Iran's "sensitive facilities," and he dismissed the idea of a Middle Eastern NATO-like alliance as "superficial."
On July 8, 2022, IRINN TV (Iran) aired footage of a Disavowal of Polytheists ceremony performed by Hajj pilgrims in Mecca. During the ceremony, Iranian pilgrims chanted: "Death to America! Death to Israel!" Abdolfattah Navvab, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's Representative for Hajj Affairs, said that it is impossible for one to claim belief in God while simultaneously befriending Israel and America. For more information about the ceremony, see MEMRI TV Clips nos. 991, 2278, and 7413.
Mehdi Taeb, the head of Iran's Ammar Strategic Advisory Base that advises Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said in an April 28, 2022 show on Channel 3 (Iran) that the Holocaust was a lie meant to lead to the creation of Israel. He said that nobody is allowed to "touch" the Holocaust, because this would "break" it and pose a challenge to Israel's survival. In addition, Taeb said that Zionism and Israel are Satan's "top students," and that the Zionists and the Jews control oil and gold reserves in the world. He elaborated that Israel is a "cancerous growth" that must be "operated on." Moreover, he said that Jerusalem is the Zionists' "main artery," and that striking it would cause everything to collapse. For more about Mehdi Taeb, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 5986, 7016, 8029, 8048, and 9518.
Iranian preacher Reza Hassanzadeh said in a Friday, June 10, 2022 sermon in Titkanlu, Iran that the days of American and Israeli "hit and run" operations and that Iran will be retaliating with an iron fist. He said that 16 years ago, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had predicted that Israel would not survive 25 more years, and that Israel itself has now "reached the same conclusion." Hassanzadeh claimed that even former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had admitted that "the Jews cannot rule more than 80 years." In addition, Hassanzadeh claimed that many Israelis are purchasing land in Argentina and Chile, and that 850,000 Israelis have already left Israel.
On May 20, 2022, Channel 3 (Iran) aired footage from a gathering of IRGC and Basij forces from the Tehran Metropolitan Area. One performance at the gathering featured a song with the lyrics: "We are ready for war, tell Zion… No trace will be left of the demon... Not a single house will be left standing in Tel Aviv... The Saud clan is a mirror reflecting the scheming of the Jews [and will be] eliminated." In addition, a speaker at the event said that Haifa and Tel Aviv will be razed to the ground, and a woman in the crowd said she would give up her life for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Moreover, IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami promised the audience that they will soon pray in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
On May 17, 2022, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a report about the inauguration of the production line of the Iranian Ababil-2 UAV in Tajikistan. The event was attended by Iran's Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces General Mohammad Bagheri and by Tajikistan's Defense Minister General Shirali Mirza. According to the report, drones similar to Ababil-2 have been in operation in Palestine under the name "Jenin" (operated by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 9523 and 9568), in Yemen by the Houthis under the name "Samad," and in Lebanon by Hizbullah under the name "Hassan." The report also provided a brief overview of the drone's technical capabilities.
On April 29, 2022, in honor of International Quds Day, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a lecture given to foreign students in Iran by Iranian Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution member Hassan Rahimpour-Azghadi at an International Quds Day conference in 2019. In the lecture, Azghadi claimed that Israel abducts children from throughout the Arab world, harvests their organs to be used as "spare parts" by wealthy Jews and Westerns, and sexually abuses them in military bases. He also expressed doubts about the Holocaust and said that according to studies, Hitler was "born to Jews."
General Mohammad-Reza Naghdi, the Deputy IRGC Commander-in-Chief for Coordination, claimed in an April 29, 2022 International Quds Day speech which aired on Fars TV (Iran) that Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has expressed concern over whether Israel will last longer than 80 years. He said that Israel is besieged by Islamic mujahideen from all directions, and that the Israelis should pack their bags and leave the country. He also claimed that many wealthy Israeli leaders have already bought land in Latin America and started "spreading" Hebrew there in preparation for the eventuality of Israel's demise. For more about General Naghdi, see MEMRI TV Clips 9496, 8833, 8570, 8392, and 2026.
In an April 20, 2022 interview on Press TV (Iran), Bolivia's Ambassador to Iran Romina Guadalupe Pérez Ramon said that IRGC Qods Force Commander General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2020, had been a "prominent figure" in the fight against terrorism and in advancing international peace. She elaborated that Soleimani had played a "key role" in fighting organizations like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, which she said had been financed and supported by the United States as part of a policy of terrorism.
Iranian official Mehdi Taeb, the head of the regime-affiliated think-tank Ammar Strategic Advisory Base, said in an April 26, 2022 show on Channel 3 (Iran) that the Holocaust was a complete lie fabricated by the Jews, whom he described as "masters of inventing lies." Taeb also said that the Jews were not burned in the Holocaust and that it was impossible to prove that they were killed in gas chambers. For more about Mehdi Taeb, see MEMRI TV Clips nos. 8048, 8029, 7016, and 7986.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in a speech at a military parade that aired on Channel 1 (Iran) on April 18, 2022 that Israel should know "for certain" that if it seeks to normalize relations with some of the countries in the region, even the "slightest" of its activities will be monitored by Iran's intelligence agencies and armed forces. He also said that if Israel acts in any way against the Iranian people, then the "heart" of Israel will be targeted by Iran's armed forces. He said: "Know for certain that the huge power of our armed forces will not let you rest."
Iranian ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi said that Iran "completely supports Iraq's security and sovereignty" but if the U.S. and Israel attack Iran, it should not be expected to sit idly by on in an interview that aired on Al-Sharqiya News TV (Iraq) on April 14, 2022. Masjedi said that the Israelis undermine Iran's security from within the Kurdistan Region and that they carried out an attack against an IRGC base in Kermanshah, Iran from within the region, and this is the reason Iran attacked Erbil in retaliation. He added that Iran attacked the Ayn Al Asad airbase in Iraq only because of the American assassination of IRGC Qods Force commander Soleimani on Iraqi soil. According to various reports, Iraj Masjedi is being replaced.
Deputy IRGC Commander-in-Chief for Coordination General Mohammad-Reza Naghdi said in a March 31, 2022 interview on Ofogh TV (Iran) that Europeans are losing their national identity and are headed for extinction due to the negative population growth in Europe. He said that Western countries preach to other societies how they should conduct themselves, yet Westerners are not getting married or having children. As a result, he said, the West is headed towards extinction and is forced to "import" populations from Africa and other parts of the world. Naghdi gave the example of France's national soccer and basketball teams, which he said comprise mostly of Africans. He predicted that in a few years the European race will exist only in museums, and that if the African immigrants to Europe embrace the Western lifestyle, they too will be headed for extinction.
Dr. Mahmoud-Reza Aghamiri, the head of the Nuclear Engineering Department at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, said in a lecture that was uploaded to the Snn.ir Telegram channel on April 9, 2022, that Iran has nuclear "deterrence capability." He explained that this is the ability to rapidly enrich uranium to 99% and "not control" nuclear fission." He added that Iran has the capability to Install a nuclear warhead "and let it do whatever it wants." He referred to this as Iran's "inalienable right," gave North Korea as an example of the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence, explaining that it can threaten America and act like a bully even though it only has seven nuclear bombs.
Tehran University Professor and retired IRGC General Hossein Alaei said in an interview that was posted to the Iranian website Ecoiran.com on March 22, 2022 that Russia should not serve as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran in the nuclear talks. He explained that Russia is untrustworthy and that it stands to lose from the nuclear agreement since it would enable Iran to take some of Russia's share in the oil and natural gas market in Europe, particularly now that Russia is facing economic sanctions because of the Ukraine crisis. Rather, he said that Iran should talk directly with the United States and sign a deal without Russian, Chinese, or European mediation.
Iranian missile and satellite expert Hossein Dalirian said in a March 10, 2022 interview on the Arabic-language Al-Alam TV (Iran) that Iran's satellites will be used for "non-military purposes" and for obtaining "important and sensitive information" about Iran's enemies, such as the location and movements of Israeli military forces. Dalirian was interviewed days after the IRGC launched the Noor-2 satellite (see MEMRI TV Clips No. 9420 and 9423).
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, the Editor-in-Chief of Iran Diplomatic, said in a March 13, 2022 interview on Al-Mamlaka TV (Jordan) that the March 13 IRGC missile attack against targets in Erbil, Iraq were a warning to the U.S. and to Arabs who collaborate with Israel. He explained that the attack was a message that if a nuclear deal is not reached in Vienna, then Iran is prepared for a confrontation in the region. Abshenas also said that Iran will not tolerate Israeli presence in any country in the region.
Following a March 13, 2022 IRGC missile strike against a building in Erbil, Iraq which Iran claimed contained Mossad operatives, Iranian researcher Saeid Shaverdi said in a same-day interview on Al-Nujaba TV (Iraq) that Iran will retaliate directly against Israel if it undermines its security, even if the Vienna nuclear talks fail. He said that Iran will do so without reliance on its allies in the region.
#9409 – IRGC Unveils Underground UAV And Missile Base
On March 5, 2022, a video was uploaded to the IMA Media YouTube channel showcasing an IRGC underground UAV and missile base. In the video, senior IRGC commanders, including Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami, are seen touring the base. An announcer who welcomed the IRGC commanders said: "Our blade is thirsty for blood... Our job is to sacrifice our lives, like Soleimani did." He also said that martyrdom is the "Iranians' habit." The video concluded with a simulation of the UAVs and missiles being launched from the underground base and hitting a target in the desert. According to the description, the IMA Media YouTube account is an "independent social media-based press office which reviews Iran's military strength and achievements."
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in a March 1, 2022 address that was aired on IRINN TV (Iran) that Ukraine has fallen victim to the policies of the United States. He said that greed is the "foundation of life" in Western and American civilization, and that the American regime is a "mafia" that causes crises in order to increase its profits in the weapons trade. He added that Western civilization is a "modern jahiliyyah [pre-Islamic age of ignorance]" and that it is Iran's duty of Iran to fight against it like the Prophet Muhammad fought against the jahiliyyah of his time.
In an interview that was posted on Javanan.tv on January 14, 2022, former Iranian ambassador to Australia and Mexico Mohammad-Hassan Ghadiri-Abyaneh criticized former Iranian leaders. He said that former president Hassan Rouhani was a "traitor" who deserved to be lashed and to have his religious scholar's cloak taken from him. Ghadiri-Abyaneh also said that he suspects Rouhani, as well as former president Ahmadinejad, had been pleased with the "martyrdom" of IRGC Qods Force commander General Qasem Soleimani. In addition, Ghadiri-Abyaneh said that former president Mohammad Khatami is "good for nothing" and that former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is a "coward." At a different point in the interview, Ghadiri-Abyaneh said that Jews infiltrate wealthy and powerful non-Jewish families, and that the mortality rate in those families subsequently increases so that the Jews get a larger portion of the inheritance. Furthermore, Ghadiri-Abyaneh claimed that the Israeli flag represents a Zionist belief that the geographic area between the Nile and the Euphrates rivers, which he claims spans 20 countries and includes Mecca and Medina, belongs to Israel. For more information about Ambassador Ghadiri-Abyaneh, see MEMRI TV clips Nos. 8918 and 998.
#9360 – Footage Of Iran Testing New 'Khaybar Smasher' Ballistic Missile
On February 10, 2022, a video was uploaded to the IMA Media YouTube channel showing footage of a test of Iran's new Khaybar Shekan ("Khaybar Smasher") ballistic missile. The missile is launched from a mobile launcher, onboard cameras show the warhead detaching from the engine, and then the warhead is shown striking a designated target zone in a desert. It is noteworthy that the missile's name refers to the battle of Khaybar, in which the Muslims fought the Jews who inhabited the Khaybar oasis and defeated them. The "IMA" in IMA Media is an acronym for "Iran's Military Achievements." For more about the Khaybar Shekan missile, see MEMRI TV Clip No. 9533.
#9355 – IRGC Aerospace Force Unveils The 'Khaybar Smasher', A New Surface-To-Surface Missile
On February 9, 2022, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a report about the IRGC Aerospace Force's recent unveiling of the Khaybar Shekan ("Khaybar Smasher"), a new surface-to-surface missile. According to the report, the missile is an "all-Iranian" strategic long-range precision missile with a range of 1,450 km. The report showed footage of missile testing from a "secret testing site" in Iran. IRGC General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief-of-Staff of Iran's armed forces, told reporters that the enemies of Islam and Iran only understand the language of force. It is noteworthy that the missile's name refers to the battle of Khaybar, in which the Muslims fought the Jews who inhabited the Khaybar oasis and defeated them.
Iranian preacher Ali-Saleh Mousavi-Azam said in a Friday, February 4, 2022 sermon in the city of Yasuj, Iran that aired on Dena TV (Iran) that the Jews that live as dhimmis in Shiraz live in safety, yet still conspire and show animosity. He said that his intention is to "awaken" his audience's "sense of religious zeal" regarding the "atrocities" of the Jews and the Zionists. In addition, Mousavi-Azam said that he heard from his mentor that some Jews in Iran would use kerosene lamps instead of electricity so that they could send the money they saved to Israel.
Princeton University guest professor Hossein Mousavian, who has served as Iran's Ambassador to Germany, said in a January 9, 2022 interview on Ofogh TV (Iran) that during a visit to the U.S. he heard that the wife of Brian Hook, the former U.S. Special Representative for Iran, could not sleep at night because she feared that her husband would be killed in retribution for his part in the assassination of IRGC Qods Force Commander General Qasem Soleimani.
In a January 4, 2022 interview on Al-Manar TV (Hizbullah-Lebanon), IRGC Deputy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Ali Fadavi said that in the 2016 Farsi Island incident, the Americans quickly realized that they were "criminals on death row" and that they are at risk of being targeted by the full force of the IRGC, so they quickly obeyed the IRGC's orders. He also said that when the time is right, Iran will strike America and its Zionist "followers" with great force. In addition, he said that if Israel acts against Iran, Iran will turn Haifa and Tel Aviv into dust. Moreover, Admiral Fadavi said that the Americans will soon be annihilated and that they will cease to control the world and the region.
On January 3, 2022, an animated video titled "Messages" was uploaded to the Telegram channel of Sabreen News, which is a media network associated with Iraqi militia Asai'b Ahl Al-Haq, commemorating the second anniversary of the assassination of IRGC Qods Force Commander General Qasem Soleimani and deputy PMU chief Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis. The video shows Soleimani and Al-Muhandis writing letters that are delivered by pigeons to civilians, as members of Iranian forces and Iraqi militias standing by with rocket launchers and drones.
Meanwhile, a meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad about Arab normalization with Israel is shown between an American official, an Arab official wearing a headdress, and an ultra-orthodox Jew. A small drone suddenly flies into the room and interrupts the meeting by projecting a video of a speech in which Al-Muhandis promised to stop the U.S. and its Iraqi lackeys (see MEMRI TV Clip No. 7680) and a speech by Qais Al-Khazali, Secretary-General of Asai'b Ahl Al-Haq militia.
Later in the video, rockets and explosive drones are seen striking the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, a U.S. military convoy, and American military facilities, defense systems, and airstrips. The video ends with an injured American soldier crawling on an airstrip with hundreds of American coffins on it as an American transport plane takes off. During this scene, an excerpt can be heard from a speech in which Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah promised that America will leave the region humiliated and defeated (see MEMRI TV Clip No. 7700).
In a January 3, 2022 speech at an event commemorating the second anniversary of the killing of IRGC Qods Force Commander General Qasem Soleimani, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that former U.S. President Donald Trump, who ordered the assassination of Soleimani, is a murderer who must stand trial and receive "retribution in kind" for his actions. Raisi said that a tribunal should be established to implement this "divine ruling" against Trump and his administration officials, and that if this does not happen, there should be no doubt that the "hand of revenge will emerge from the sleeve" of the Iranian nation. The audience chanted: "Allah Akbar [...] Death to America!"
On January 2, 2022, a vigil was held outside the U.S. Consulate in Toronto in memory of IRGC Qods Force Commander Qasem Soleimani. The vigil marked two years since the U.S. assassination of Soleimani. Canadian Shi'ite Sheikh Shafiq Huda, the Director of the Islamic Humanitarian Service in Kitchener, Ontario, said in English that leaders in the West are trying to "rule the Islamic nation" from the White House, and that they are too cowardly to come to the battlefield. He said that both Biden and Trump will end up in the dustbin and led the audience in a chant: "Allah Akbar! Khamenei is the Leader! America is the Great Satan!"
Later, Canadian Islamic Scholar Sauber Mojtahedi said in Farsi that Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, an Iraqi militia leader who was killed in the same air strike as Soleimani, had been the greatest soldiers of the Hidden Imam, and he said that the day will come when former President Donald Trump and former State Secretary Mike Pompeo will be tried in an Islamic court, just like Imam Khomeini had wanted to try the Shah in an Islamic court. Mojtahedi compared Trump to Saddam Hussein and Anwar Sadat, and he asked for Allah to curse him and Pompeo. For more information about Sheikh Shafiq Huda, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 8586 and 6614. The address was posted on the DARS TV YouTube channel.
IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami said in a November 27, 2022 speech aired on Ofogh TV (Iran) that Iran will soon witness the collapse of Israel and that it will turn the upcoming "world war" into a "graveyard" for the policies of America, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and their allies. He said that there is no middle ground and that one must choose between the "front of Islam" and the "front of heresy." He added that the Quran instructs Muslims to "not take the Jews and Christians as allies."
An animated video depicting a "resistance" World Cup soccer team defeating a team comprised of Iran's enemies surfaced and spread on various online sources around November 22, 2022. The "United Resistance" team, coached by slain IRGC Qods Force Commander General Qasem Soleimani, is comprised of players from Afghanistan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Palestine, who are all replaced by children later in the game. The enemy team, which is referred to as the "human rights" team and which is coached by Uncle Sam, is comprised of the following "players," all depicted as overweight and brutish: former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump; Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's former and recently re-elected prime minister; a big bully who turns out to be ISIS and who has a "Made in the USA" tattoo; former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson; Osama Bin Laden; Saddam; and Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, referred to as "Bin Chubby." The referee in the game is wearing a United Nations shirt, and he repeatedly ignores infractions by the Human Rights team.
During the video, several allusions to Iranian conspiracy theories about events from the past several decades are made, including: George Bush's jersey number is 9/11; Osama Bin Laden launches explosives at his "teammate" George Bush, but Bush responds by beating up the resistance team's Afghan player, "as if these two unscrupulous [players] planned it all in advance"; George Bush and Uncle Sam beat up and steal oil from the Iraqi and Syrian players; Benjamin Netanyahu mesmerizes resistance team players by launching a social media attack against them; Uncle Sam forces a Ukrainian soldier to separate from his daughter to fight for U.S. interests; and Uncle Sam raises a poster bearing the anti-regime slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom."
In addition, the children who replace the adult players in the "resistance" team are emboldened by the Iranian song "Salute Commander" (see MEMRI TV Clip No. 9719), and at the end of the video, an Iranian remote-control vehicle assassinates former U.S. President Donald Trump as he is sleeping on the soccer field after the match. The video is dedicated to the sons of the IRGC soldiers who were killed in Syria and to the sons of the security personnel killed in the recent protests.
Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the IRGC Navy, said in a December 13, 2022 public address that was broadcast by SNN Internet TV (Iran) that America "cannot even imagine" the missiles Iran has, and that Iran even has missiles that can reach the Pleiades star cluster. Tangsiri also said that the missiles displayed in drills are not the ones Iran would use in war, and he mocked American soldiers. For more about Admiral Tangsiri, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 9807, 9294, 8748, 8316, 7416, 7213, and 7190.
Iranian Rahmatollah Siadat said in a Friday, December 16, 2022 sermon in Pataveh, a city in the Iranian province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, that Iranian weapons have "struck fear in the enemy." He said that Israel, American interests, and European countries are in the missiles' range, and that if the U.S. and Europe do not cease their "intervention" and "hybrid war" against Iran, Iran "will annihilate all their interests."
On August 24, 2022, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a report about Iranian military drone exercises. The joint drone exercise took place throughout Iranian territory and involved 150 reconnaissance, defense, and "elimination" drones, including Kaman, Arash, Omid, Karrar, Yasir, Pelican, and Mohajer-6 models. The report prominently featured the Mohajer-6 drone, which flies at an altitude of 18,000 feet and monitors Iran's eastern border using an "Eagle-Eye" thermal camera. The report said that there are dozens of Mohajer-6 drones "ready for battle" at an underground base designated "313," and Iran Army Ground Forces Commander General Kioumars Heydari said that this drone is capable of carrying out strikes with either the Almas missile or the Ghaem bomb.
