Major General Amir Hatami, Commander of the Iranian Army, warned of plans aimed at weakening the Islamic Republic and depleting its resources, stressing that “the enemy seeks to gradually weaken Iran and exhaust the people,” but in return he stressed that his country “will not allow greater Iran to be swallowed up.”
Hatami’s statements came during the Davos students’ graduation ceremony, where he stated that “in the current circumstances, the army undoubtedly has a decisive responsibility,” describing the enemies’ claims that they are “invincible” as “false claims.”
Hatami explained that “the enemy,” in reference to the United States, fought long wars in both Vietnam and Afghanistan that extended for about 20 years, and ended with his exit “humiliated,” adding that “the same thing was repeated in Iraq,” despite Washington sending aircraft carriers and the latest weapons, without expecting “this amount of toughness” in confronting them.
The Iranian army commander added, “The enemy thinks that we are in a position of weakness and that he is in a position of strength, but he is wrong,” stressing that “Greater Iran cannot be swallowed,” and that “millions of soldiers in Iran today are ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the homeland.”
Hatami went on to say that “the enemy seeks to impose the cost of harming Iran’s territorial integrity, as it did with some countries in the region,” but stressed that “the Iranian people will stand with all determination and will not allow this malicious plan to be implemented.” He concluded his speech by saying: “We in the army will defend Iran’s independence and territorial integrity until our last breath.”
These statements come in light of escalating tension in the Middle East, as Washington has strengthened its military presence in the region since late January 2026, through the deployment of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, in addition to additional air and missile reinforcements, in the context of the confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program and its support for forces loyal to it in the region.
On the other hand, Tehran threatens to target American bases if they are subjected to any military action, while tense nuclear negotiations continue between the two sides, which in turn represents an additional pressure factor and mutual escalation, amid fears that the situation will slide into a broader confrontation.
