On April 18, 1979, Imam Khomeini named 18 April as Army Day, during a speech to the people calling for military parades to exhibit the nation's military preparedness.
The Iranian armed forces often demonstrate new defense technologies on the occasion.
The parade is held in front of the holy mausoleum of Imam Khomeini
This year, Iran commemorated National Army Day with a large-scale military parade, showcasing the country’s defense preparedness and latest achievements in this sector.
Forces with various divisions of Iran’s Army attended the parade, which began on Wednesday morning near the holy mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, in southern Tehran.
During the parade, Iranian Armed Forces displayed their new defense achievements, advanced military equipment and hardware. Similar celebrations were also held in other cities across the country.
Another such parade was also held by Iran’s Navy forces in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, with the country’s warships and destroyers sailing in the strategic waters in a show of power.
In Tehran, Iran’s latest domestically manufactured missile system called Kamin-2 was unveiled. It is a portable device designed to target enemy drones flying in low altitude.
Among other defense hardware put on display were the country’s other missile systems, including S-300, S-200, Tabas and Sayyad, as well as radar systems, tanks, armored vehicles and sniper rifles.
In Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani addressed the ceremony and stressed the country's armed force are no threat no neighbors.
The president assured regional states that Iran’s policy towards them is based on “good neighborliness,” adding that history shows Iran has never invaded but rather helped nations and governments grow over the past centuries.
“In such a region where big powers have used terrorist groups as tools to promote insecurity, our country needs a strong deterrent armed force that stands against the major powers’ conspiracies and prevents terrorists from setting sight on the territory with greed,” he added.
The Iranian chief executive also warned the Western States against flooding the region with their weapons while plundering the resources of its nations.
“Your weapons could neither bring independence for regional countries nor frighten great nations like Iran,” Rouhani said,
The president also described political dialog and peaceful approaches as the only solution to regional and global problems.