The following is a collection of MEMRI TV clips from the MEMRI Iran Studies Project in 2021. 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.
About MEMRI's Iran Studies Project
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The MEMRI Iran Studies Project, headed by native-born Iranians, is the only research project in the world that monitors and analyzes materials from the Iranian media on a day-to-day basis:
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It has produced hundreds of hours of translations from Iran's most important media outlets and websites, including over 40 newspapers and more than 30 TV channels.
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It has published hundreds of original analyses on issues of vital importance, such as Iran's pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capability and its military and political expansion in the region;
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Focus also on the increasing activity of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) within the country and the IRGC Qods Force outside its borders;
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Also covers the political revolt in the country and its violent suppression by the regime; speeches and statements by military leaders; speeches by leaders; sermons by senior religious and political figures; and more.
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The project also monitors reformists, including women's and human rights activists and others, in the country.
The following are MEMRI TV clips from Iran in 2021:
In a broadcast leading to Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei's speech on May 2, Channel 1 TV aired a song titled "A Vigilant and Strong Nation" in commemoration of IRGC's Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani. In the video accompanying the song, IRGC soldiers pledge to avenge the death of Soleimani, who was killed by the U.S. military in January 2020. They sing: "We will destroy the palace of oppression," while in the video a missile is launched and immediately afterwards the U.S. Capitol building goes up in flames. The song continues: "Jerusalem's liberation comes from Iran [...] let us go."
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that if the "need arises," Iran may increase its uranium enrichment to 60%. He said: "Enrichment is something that we need, and we shall have it." The Supreme Leader spoke during a public address that was aired on Channel 1 (Iran) on February 22, 2021. He said that the Israeli PM, whom he referred to as an "international Zionist clown", cannot stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, if Iran so desires. He added that Iran does not "think about nuclear weapons at all." The Supreme Leader stated: "The Islamic Republic will not back down."
Former Iranian diplomat Seyyed Hadi Seyyed Afghahi said that the nuclear bomb is only a pretext, a lie, or a fabrication and that Iran does not seek to produce one. He made his remarks in an interview that aired on Al-Mamlaka TV (Jordan) on July 12, 2021. Afghahi continued to say that if Iran did want to produce a nuclear bomb, it would be capable of doing so, as it has already enriched uranium metal to 60-80%. He added that if Iran had wanted to produce a nuclear bomb, it would not seek the permission of America and Israel. For more information about Seyyed Hadi Seyyed Afhahi, see MEMRI TV clips Nos. 7945 and 8163.
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, the Editor-in-Chief of Iran Diplomatic, said in a November 9, 2021 interview on Alghad TV (UAE) that Iran has the ability to cross the "red line" and acquire everything necessary for the construction of a nuclear bomb, so that final assembly would only take minutes or hours. Abshenas added that Iran's current government is pleased with the renewal of the nuclear talks because it has a "strong hand," unlike during the Rouhani governments' JCPOA negotiations.
Mojtaba Zonnour, Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in Iran's Majles discussed Iranian terms for a return to the JCPOA and negotiations over the Iranian missile program in an interview that aired on Al-Alam TV (Iran) on January 27, 2021. He said that if Biden wants to return to the JCPOA, this would mean that the Americans must fulfill their commitments. Zonnour elaborated that America must lift the sanctions that were imposed on Iran, and after this the time will come for America to compensate Iran for the damages it incurred because of the sanctions. He continued to say that there will be no negotiations on Iran's defensive and deterrent missile capabilities unless the missile power and defensive capabilities of America, the West, and Israel are removed. Zonnour referred also to the South Korean ship that is held by Iran, saying that Iran is not holding the South Korean ship in order to pressure Seoul to release Iranian frozen funds, however, if South Korea does release the funds, this would be considered a show of their "good will," and it may encourage Iran to think about helping South Korea release its ship. For more about Mojtaba Zonnour, see MEMRI TV clips No. 7544 and 7330.
Iranian Islamic scholar Gholamreza Neyshaburi claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had stated that he was a follower of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei. He made his remarks during a Friday sermon in Ashtian, Iran that was aired on Aftab TV (Iran) on February 13, 2021. Neyshaburi claimed that Putin requests a translation of all of Khamenei's speeches.
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, the editor-in-chief of Iran Diplomatic said that Iran is capable of producing all the elements of a nuclear bomb and threatening the West that it will produce the bomb, if it does not lift sanctions. He made his remarks on a panel that aired on Alghad TV (UAE/Egypt) on October 1, 2021. Abshenas said this would also prevent the possibility of war against Iran. He added that the sanctions placed on North Korea are less severe than Iran's, because it is a nuclear threat. Abshenas further said that many Iranians are now advocating for the production of a nuclear weapon in order to pressure the West into lifting the sanctions, and that their voices are becoming more powerful. For more about Emad Abshenas, see MEMRI TV clips Nos. 9071, 9005, 9003, 8608, 8581, 8341, 8320, 8211, 8057, 7939.
Iranian Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani said that the only solution for Iran is the removal of the "religious gang" from power and that Iran must be ruled by a secular regime. He made these remarks in an interview that aired on Al-Arabiya Network (Saudi Arabia) on May 21, 2021. Ayatollah Masoumi-Tehrani, who was speaking from Tehran, said that clerics must be removed from government and focus only on religious and social issues. He said that the opposition to the government lacks unity and cooperation, but it agrees that the clerics must "relinquish control." Ayatollah Masoumi-Tehrani went on to say that if the current regime does not "listen to the voice of reason" and leave on its own, it will be forced to face a popular movement that will take it down by force.
The director of the Center for Strategic Studies and International Relations of Iran and former diplomat Amir Mousavi said that Iran would not give up any of its conditions for a return to the JCPOA but U.S. President Biden would. He made these remarks in an interview with Al-Iraqiya TV (Iraq) that was aired on February 21, 2021. He said that Biden would be forced to comply with the Iranian conditions for a return to the agreement because he is facing crises in America and wants to get away from the Middle East.
Iranian TV host Davoud Moradian asked Iranian stem cell scientist Masoud Soleimani about the "Zionist tycoon" Bill Gates' foundation's clinical trials of vaccines in India and Africa. He asked: "Is the life of a Western person worth more than ours? Are we lab rats?" Soleimani replied that "they see themselves as the superior race." The interview was aired on Ofogh TV (Iran), on January 13, 2021. Soleimani was arrested by U.S. authorities for attempting to export biological material to Iran in 2018. He was convicted and served time in U.S. prison. He was released in 2019 as part of a prisoner swap deal.
General Gholamali Rashid, the commander of Khatam Al-Anbiya central headquarters of Iran's armed forces, said that the U.S. and the Zionist regime are angry at Iran's "regional power," because they know that in addition to Iran's local military forces, it now has armed forces in countries beyond its border, who will come to its defense if invaded. He made his remarks in a speech at a ceremony commemorating the Iran-Iraq war that aired on IRINN TV (Iran) on September 25, 2021.
Between November 25 and 27, 2021, the Irankargar YouTube channel posted several videos showing Iranian security forces cracking down on farmers and civilians in Isfahan who were protesting government policies leading to the drying of the Zayanderud. The videos, which were filmed by protesters at the dry riverbed, showed police officers in riot gear, some on motorcycles, trying to disperse the crowds with tear gas and firing weapons. The videos also showed burning tents, and protestors saying that the security forces set the tents on fire. In one video, a woman is heard saying: "There are no [real] men in this country! [Otherwise the police] wouldn't be so impudent!"
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, the editor-in-chief of Iran Diplomatic Newspaper, said that unlike Rouhani's team, President-elect Raisi's administration does not seek to reach a fundamental resolution of all disagreements with the U.S., but only to have the sanctions lifted. He made his remarks in a show that aired on Sky News Arabiya (UAE) on July 24, 2021. Abshenas said that he does not think that Raisi's team wants to obtain nuclear weapons, although Iran has all the technology to manufacture a bomb, and if it wanted to, it could do so at any time. Abshnenas also said that "even before the JCPOA, (Iran) had the ability to manufacture ten nuclear bombs." He added that Iran's first priority will be resolving disagreements with the neighboring countries and getting closer to "the countries of the East" like Russia and China instead of getting closer to Europe and the United States.
Former Iranian Ambassador to Mexico and Australia Mohammad-Hassan Ghadiri-Abyaneh said that every year on Purim, the Zionists celebrate their killing of more than 70,000 Iranians. He made these remarks in an interview that aired on Channel 4 (Iran) on June 5, 2021. Ambassador Ghadiri-Abyaneh went on to say that the Germans opposed the Jews and decided to "get rid" of them because the Jews had robbed them. He also explained that Zionists seek "to rule from the Nile to the Euphrates," an area which, he said, spans the territory of 20 countries, and includes Mecca and Medina.
Former Iranian diplomat Amir Mousavi said that Saudi Arabia was forced to choose the path of reconciliation because it failed in overthrowing Bashar Al-Assad in Syria and Sheikh Tamim in Qatar and instating ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. He made his remarks in an interview on Russia Today TV on July 3, 2021. He said that the U.S. is already defeated in the region and that it has no place in the region unless it becomes "polite and humble."
IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami said that the Qods Force has mastered the art of defeating America's policy, strategy, and power. He made these remarks in interview with Channel 2 (Iran) that aired on May 5, 2021. He explained that diminishing and eroding the power of the "American empire" and forcing it to disintegrate along wide fronts is a "great thing." General Salami further referred to Israel, saying that the "Zionist entity" has recently exposed its vulnerability, which is its commercial shipping around the world.
Former Iranian diplomat Seyyed Hadi Seyyed Afghahi said in a November 3, 2021 interview on Al-Alam TV (Iran) that the entire Iranian nation is united behind the IRGC and that there are martyrdom-seekers "who will make the water of the Persian Gulf red with the blood of Americans and anybody who joins them." He said that the U.S. is failing and must "act rationally and think a thousand times" before setting out on any "adventures." For more about Afghahi, see MEMRI TV Clips No. 8977, No. 8163, and No. 7945.
Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, an Iranian political activist said that "one man, named Sayyed Ali Khamenei" banned the import of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, and thus is responsible for the thousands of Iranians who have died and are dying of the virus. He made his remarks in a video posted on his Instagram account on August 31, 2021. He continued to say that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is talking about regaining the public trust, while in fact, he is the absolute ruler of Iran and the one responsible for the vaccine import ban. He said that Khamenei must apologize and added: "Today, one mullah rules us all by killing and destroying us." For more about Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, see MEMRI TV clip no 7894.
Iranian political activist Fatemeh Sepehri said she hopes to see the day that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dragged through the streets and killed like Libyan leader Qadhafi. She made her remarks in a video taken across from the Vakil-Abad prison in Mashhad, Iran and which was posted on Irankargar on YouTube on March 20, 2021. In the video, Sepehri says that she hopes that the new Persian year will be a year of victory and liberation for the people of Iran. She said that she hopes that Khamenei will lose the people that are dear to him and that the Khamenei family will cry the same way that the people of Iran are crying for their loved ones lost on various military fronts.
Between November 25 and 27, 2021, the Irankargar YouTube channel posted several videos showing Iranian security forces cracking down on farmers and civilians in Isfahan who were protesting government policies leading to the drying of the Zayanderud. The videos, which were filmed by protesters at the dry riverbed, showed police officers in riot gear, some on motorcycles, trying to disperse the crowds with tear gas and firing weapons. The videos also showed burning tents, and protestors saying that the security forces set the tents on fire. In one video, a woman is heard saying: "There are no [real] men in this country! [Otherwise the police] wouldn't be so impudent!"
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that he limited the range of the Iranian missile capability to 2,000 kilometers, despite IRGC requests to increase the range to 4,000-5,000 kilometers. He made his remarks during a meeting with experts in the fields of science and technology on February 28, 2019, and which was posted on Khamenei.ir, the official website of the Iranian Supreme Leader, on June 14, 2021. Khamenei said that IRGC officials are not happy with this decision and complain about it, but he has reasons for this decision. He added that long-range accurate missiles are a "very significant thing," and added that these missiles come within five to ten meters of the target.
Former Iranian diplomat Amir Mousavi said Khamenei might change the fatwa forbidding a military nuclear program in an interview with Russia Today TV that aired on February 1, 2021. He said that the Iranian defense and nuclear programs were based on Supreme Leader Khamenei's fatwa, however, jurisprudents like Khamenei can change a fatwa in accordance with changed circumstances. Mousavi warned that if the Zionist entity, the U.S., or any other party employs "anti-humanity methods," Iran has "many cards up its sleeve." He said that he hopes Iran will not get to that point, because as it is, Iran has enough military power to "put an end to the Zionist entity" without using its nuclear capabilities.
General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of IRGC Aerospace Force referred to the American B-52 bombers flying over Iran on channel 2 Iranian TV on January 15, 2021. He said that the Americans are "terrified" of Iran, and this is why despite Iranian drones flying over American ships, they have not retaliated. General Hajizadeh said that Iran can send 500 missiles at once and render all the American bases in the region inoperative all within minutes. He added that the B-52 bomber is an "outdated" plane and is much more vulnerable than the MQ4 spy plane. General Hajizadeh showed the reporter a monitor on which American UAV movement could be seen on the southern border of Iran.
Iranian Vice President Mohammad Eslami, who also serves as the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI), said in an October 9, 2021 interview on Channel 1 (Iran) that Israel and the enemies of the Iranian regime have created a "certain atmosphere" surrounding Iran's nuclear energy program. He said that accusing Iran of wanting to develop military nuclear capabilities is part of the evil that Iran's enemies want to do to Iran, and he emphasized that all the materials and fuel types the AEOI wants to develop are within the legal and regulatory framework of the IAEA, which he said Iran is committed to. Vice President Eslami also said that America "resents" any manifestation of Iran's power of deterrence, and that Iran must do what is necessary for the sake of its national interest. He emphasized that Iran has "no clandestine activity" and said: "If [the Americans] feel threatened – let them feel threatened."
Protesters chanted: "Cannons, tanks, rockets, the mullahs should get lost" in a protest staged in Tehran, video of which was posted on Kian Sharif's Twitter account on July 26, 2021. Protesters also chanted: "Not Gaza, not Lebanon, I will give my life only for Iran" in another video posted on the same day on the Twitter account of Iran News Wire. In the video, protesters further chanted: "Death to the dictator!" and "From Tehran to Khuzestan, unite, unite!" On July 31, 2021, videos of another protest were posted on the Irankargar YouTube channel, in which protesters burned tires and blocked a road. Protesters also chanted: "Death to the Rule of the Jurisprudent!" and "The country has no water, the massacre continues!" The protests in Tehran come following protests in Khuzestan and elsewhere, for more information, see MEMRI TV clip no 8989.
Iranian actress Setare Maleky said that the Iranian regime is publishing false data about coronavirus casualties, so Iranians don't realize how many people died as a result of Khamenei's religious prohibition of the use of the foreign-made coronavirus vaccine. She made her remarks in a video posted on her Instagram account on July 23, 2021. Maleky said that her father had died two weeks before the video, because he was denied access to the vaccine. She added that the Iranian regime is the "greatest dictatorship in history" and that Iran's leaders are "murderers." Maleky accused the regime of opening fire at the youth of Khuzestan," because they were "thirsty." She said: "We despise you. We hate you." Maleky added that the people of Iran "are enraged and our rage is growing. It outgrows your power." She cautioned the regime to fear "people like me" and said: "I am not afraid of you anymore. I have nothing left to fear for."
Former Iranian ambassador to Iraq Hassan Danaeifar said that the passive position of the U.S. spells its imminent collapse. He made his remarks in an interview that aired on Channel 5 (Iran) on July 5, 2021. Danaeifar said that current U.S. President Biden is not a "two-term president" and that he cannot make decisions. He added that he witnessed the fall of the Shah and the USSR and he shall also witness the fall of America.
On January 8, 2021, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a report on the "Zolfaghar" UAV Drill. The report showcased Iran's drone arsenal, including drones that can drop armor penetrating bombs. An officer explained that the drones are covered with "radar-absorbent paint" to avoid detection by the Americans. Suicide drones and drones used for electronic warfare were also displayed. An officer with Iran's armed forces who accompanied the reporter said that Iran's UAVs sends a message to the enemy that "no place in the world is beyond our reach." The officer added that if Iran Is attacked, the retaliation would be more than 1,000 kilometers away from Iran's territory. All that will be left for the enemy to do, he explained, will be "to watch with a dropped jaw." The documentary featured a suicide drone exploding on the ground, having crossed 1,400 kilometers from where it took off, according to an Iranian officer.
Khamenei's representative in Southern Khorasan Province Ayatollah Alireza Ebadi said that the Jews are the biggest problem for Islam and humanity. He made his remarks in a public address that was aired on Khorasan Jonoobi TV (Iran) on May 7, 2021. Ayatollah Ebadi added that the Jews control the world via cultural, psychological and military warfare, and their main goal is to pillage the world. He further said that it is not the French people who choose the French president or the American people who choose the U.S. president, but the Zionists who appoint a puppet president. For more information about Ayatollah Alireza Ebadi, see MEMRI TV clips Nos. 7277 and 7960.
Javad Lal-Mohammadi, a teacher and activist from Mashhad, Iran, who was recently released from prison, said that the Iranian people do not want Supreme Leader Khamenei or newly elected president, Ibrahim Raisi. He made these remarks in a video that was posted by Afshin Afshin Jam on Facebook on August 10, 2021. Lal-Mohammadi said that the fate of Khamenei and Raisi will be like that of Saddam and Qadhafi. He said Raisi should go to his "friends" Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and the Houthis of Yemen. Lal-Mohammadi added that the Khamenei has destroyed Iran and "filled it with filth." He recounted how he was flogged on every single day of his eight day prison sentence and instead of moaning he cried out: "No to the Islamic Republic!" every time the whip hit his back. Lal-Mohammadi showed off the scars on his back from the flogging. He continued to say that the only way to fix the country is for "those people to go away." He said that they could do what they want to him, but he will not pull back.
Kazem Darabi, former Iranian intelligence operative convicted of murder in the 1992 Berlin Mykonos assassinations said that the "resistance axis" must assassinate former U.S. President Donald Trump, because he gave the order to assassinate IRGC Force Quds commander Qasem Soleimani. He made his remarks in an interview that aired on Channel 5 (Iran) on July 10, 2021. Darabi said that even in the U.S. and Europe, the verdict of a person who carried out an assassination is execution. Darabi was convicted in Germany for the murder of four Kurdish Iranian dissidents. After serving a 15-year sentence, he was released early and deported to Iran in 2007.
Iranian General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Corps, said that the U.S. has never been the friend of Iran and that it has been its enemy and will remain an enemy. He made his remarks in a public address that was delivered on Noor TV (Iran) on July 2, 2021. General Hajizadeh went on to say that the enemy does not have the power to stop Iran's "regional power" because Iran is self-sufficient. He said that Iran can "bring the day" when it imposes sanctions on them, if it chooses to do so. General Hajizadeh spoke at the annual memorial service for casualties of the IRGC's bomb squad in Syria.
Channel 4 (Iran) aired a report about Zoljanah, a new mobile satellite launcher, tested by Iran that aired on February 1, 2021. Ahmad Hosseini, the spokesman for the Aerospace Team in Iran's Defense Ministry, said that the main goal of this launch was to get flight affirmation for the launcher's solid fuel engine and to see it soar and move towards orbit. He said that the most important thing about this missile launcher is that it does not require a stationary launching base. The report included footage from the "hot test" of the first-stage engine of the Zoljanah Hybrid Satellite.
Khamenei's representative in Khorasan Shomali province Reza Nouri said that America is no longer capable of doing anything to harm Iran in a Friday sermon delivered in Bojnurd, Iran and aired on Khorasan Shomali TV (Iran) on January 22, 2021. He said that some people need to actually see "the corpse of America and the regime of arrogance" in order to believe that "this regime is no longer capable of doing anything [to Iran]". Nouri said that there was a time when the "straw power" of America could attack Iran and harm its security, but today, thanks to the Iranian regime's military capabilities, it cannot do a thing to it.
General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army, said in a November 9, 2021 interview that aired on Channel 1 (Iran) that Iran's armed forces support Iran's diplomatic efforts, but warned: "If [our enemies] threaten our interests, we will threaten their interests wherever is necessary."
In a speech that was delivered at the Majles on November 2, 2021, Iranian Majles member Mahmoud Ahmadi-Bighash blasted Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his newly instated government, claiming that it has shown no signs of fixing Iran's problems. He said that the Raisi government suffers from nepotism like the Rouhani government before it, and he said that the Iranian presidency and government are riddled with incompetence. Ahmadi-Bighash said that the government is showing "excessive indifference" towards regional and international issues and that this does not serve the country. Mahmoud Ahmadi-Bighash posted his speech to his Instagram account. For more about Mahmoud Ahamdi-Bighash, see MEMRI TV clip no 8533.
Iranian international affairs expert Mostafa Khoshcheshm said that in order to exert pressure on the U.S., Europe, and those who help them, Iran must increase its nuclear production, regional military presence, and the range of its missiles. He made his remarks on a show that aired on Channel 1 (Iran) on October 18, 2021. Khoshcheshm said that Iran can increase its nuclear activity, and that pro-Iranian forces in the region, such as Hizbullah, Hamas, PMU, Ansar Allah (the Houthis), as well as the Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigades and the Pakistani Zainabiyoun Brigades, should prepare for offensive action. He added that Iran chose to limit the range of its missiles to 2,000 km, but that if needed, Iran can set an ultimatum, threatening to extend the range. For more about Mostafa Khoshcheshm, see MEMRI TV clips nos. 9118 and 9039.
Mostafa Khoshcheshm Iranian international affairs expert said that besides the nuclear and military fields, Iran could use immigration policy to exert pressure on the U.S. to get it to resolve the conflict rather than trying to contain Iran. He made these remarks in an interview that aired on IRIB Ofogh TV (Iran) on August 8, 2021. Khoshcheshm referred to an interview that former deputy Foreign Minister Araghchi gave to channel 2 (Iran) in 2019, in which he said that Iran may resort to deporting the three million Afghans living in the country if U.S. sanctions continue (see MEMRI TV clip no 7222 ). He said that he is not only speaking about Afghan immigrants, but also of immigrants from Sri Lanka and other countries to the east of Iran, who wish to pass through Iran on the way to Europe. Khoshcheshm added that the waves of immigration have caused "great changes" to the policies of the European Union, and he gave the Brexit as an example. He said that a country under sanctions has other "economic priorities" than spending billions every year on stopping immigrants from flooding Europe. Khoshcheshm said that the Europeans paid Turkey 6 billion (Dollar) so that it would block the Syrian refugees, yet Iran has not been paid a "single Riyal."
Protesters in Izeh, a city in Iran's Khuzestan Province chant: "Death to Khamenei!" in a video posted on July 21, 2021 on Sunrise YouTube channel. In a video posted on July 20, 2021 on PMOI Iran on YouTube, protesters are seen chanting: "Khamenei must be killed!" In another protest in the city of Yazdanshahr, protesters chanted, "Khuzestan, we support you!" and "I will kill the killer of my brother!" Footage from this protest was uploaded to the Irankargar YouTube channel on July 21, 2021.
Bushehr TV (Iran) aired an animated video of a U.S. cut in half with a pair of scissor with missile heads for blades on January 8. The following message appears on the screen: "Cutting revenge: Iran's answer to any threat will be crushing."
Iranian cartoonist Masoud Shojaei Tabtabaei, who has organized two Holocaust cartoon festivals, spoke about the reasons behind the exhibits in an interview that aired on Channel 4 (Iran) on September 9, 2021. He said that the festivals were held in reactions to events such as the bombing of Gaza and the cartoons of Muhammad, adding: "Whenever they attacked, we immediately launched a counter-attack." Tabtabaei said that the Holocaust is the "Achilles' heel" of the Zionists, and that the Israelis have benefited from the Holocaust. He continued to say that it is the Zionists who benefited from the Holocaust and that the figure of six million Jewish victims is "very exaggerated." He then added that anyone who casts doubts on the Holocaust is persecuted and gave the examples of Holocaust deniers David Irving and Roger Garoudy.
IRGC General Esmail Qaani, commander of the Qods Force, said that the Zionist regime should prepare to "leave this land in humiliation." He made these remarks in a public address that aired on Channel 1 (Iran). on May 29, 2021. Geenral Qaani said that the Zionists should prepare to go back to Europe, the U.S., "and elsewhere," and should buy back the homes they sold before coming to "this land." He added that "the resistance" refrained from striking Israeli infrastructure, because the Palestinians will soon make use of it themselves.
Iranian TV highlighted a segment from a speech delivered by Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh's, in which he thanked Iran for providing Hamas with money, weapons, and technical support. Press TV tweeted a clip of the segment with English captions on May 21.
Ali-Akbar Salehi, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said that Iran has activated a full chain of 164 IR-6 centrifuges in the Natanz nuclear facility. Salehi's remarks were made in an interview that aired on channel 1 (Iran) on April 10, 2021, one day before the Natanz facility suffered a major explosion. He said that this chain was originally planned to be activated in seven or eight years. Salehi described nuclear progress in the Fordow facility, and said that Iran now has an enrichment capacity of 16,500 SWU, while it only had a capacity of 13,000 SWU before the JCPOA was signed in 2013. He said that it has been announced that the hall, in which the centrifuges are assembled at the Natanz facility has been restored and is back in operation, after it was damaged and put out of use in a 2020 explosion.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran will not accept any changes to the JCPOA and that America should first implement its part of the agreement before Iran implements its part. He made these remarks in an interview with channel 1 (Iran) that aired on February 20, 2021. He said that U.S. Secretary of State Blinken cannot expect Iran to accept adding references to missiles and regional influence to the JCPOA, after it had rejected Trump's maximum pressure policy.
Ayatollah Mohammad Saidi said that the People of the Book, the Jews and Christians, are similar to the polytheists and the Muslims should fight them. He made these remarks in a Friday sermon, delivered in Qom, Iran, and it was aired on Channel 2 (Iran) on January 30, 2021. Ayatollah Saidi said that Jews and Christians do not submit to Allah and they have religious, moral, and practical deviations and thus must be fought against. He said that the Muslims must put the People of the Book in their place, fight them until they stop their corruption and evil, and force them to pay the Jizya poll tax. For more about Ayatollah Saidi, see MEMRI TV clips No. 7569, 7325, and 7256.
IRGC Aerospace Force Commander General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh said in a November 11, 2021 interview on Channel 1 (Iran) that the only regime that is constantly concerned with its existence is the Zionist regime, and this means that it "is destined to be destroyed." He added that the Zionists know that if they start a war with Iran, they will be destroyed.
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, editor-in-chief of the Iran Diplomatic, said that the U.S. government and President Biden wanted the Kabul airport bombing to happen in order to undermine the security of the region. He made these remarks in a show that aired on Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) on September 1, 2021. Abshenas said that it was the Americans who brought ISIS into Afghanistan and equipped them with modern weapons. He added that now Iran, China, and Russia must cooperate in order to defeat the terrorism in the region, or else it will spread throughout the entire world. For more about Emad Abshenas, see MEMRI TV clips Nos. 9005, 9003, 8608, 8581, 8341, 8320, 8211, 8057, 7939.
IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami spoke at a ceremony marking the unveiling of an IRGC Navy "Missile City," introducing the various weapons added to the IRGC navy arsenal. The unveiling was aired on Channel 1 (Iran) on March 15, 2021. He said that the IRGC has UAVs, land-based anti-ship missiles, anti-ship missiles, sea mines, and various types of naval systems for electronic warfare, intelligence, naval mine warfare, and weapons that cannot be unveiled. IRGC Navy Commander General Alireza Tangsiri said that the IRGC no longer needs to transport the shore missiles to the beach, because they can be launched behind hills and can be launched on the move. He added that the missiles can change their target after they have been launched. The reporter said that the capabilities of these systems and equipment in the battlefield will give the IRGC strategic advantages.
IRGC Aerospace Force commander General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh met with members of the Student Basij at Sharif University at the IRGC Aerospace Exhibition, and footage of the meeting was aired on Emtedad Online (Iran) on November 15, 2021. General Hajizadeh told the students that Iran does not need to strike targets on American soil, due to the significant U.S. presence in the region surrounding Iran. Claiming that the majority of American forces are present in the Middle East, General Hajizadeh said that Iranian pressure on American forces in the region is in response to the 2020 killing of IRGC Qods Force commander General Qasem Soleimani. In addition, he said that Iranian security forces should have prevented the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and the recent cyberattack on the Natanz nuclear facility, and he blamed this failure in part on former Iranian President Rouhani's "pro-Western" government. General Hajizadeh also said say that strikes against Israeli ships, fires in Israel, and an explosion in an Israeli factory are all part of Iran's retaliation for the killing of Fakhrizadeh. Later in the meeting, General Hajizadeh added that Iranian forces are present "from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea" and are no longer restricted to Iran's borders. Turning to the students, he said that since they are young, they will live see the day when the "Zionist regime" is annihilated.
Admiral Ali Fadavi, IRGC Deputy Commander-in-Chief, said that Muslims discovered quantum mechanics 1,000 years ago, and that this is the reason that Iranian scientists are leaders and pioneers in the field. He made his remarks in an interview that aired on Channel 2 (Iran) on September 23, 2021. General Fadavi said that while this is considered a new science in the West, and has not yet "entered people's lives or the military field," Iran already has a scientific footing in quantum science.
IRGC General Asghar Emami, a Quds Force Commander said that Iran can place America under siege through artillery and mortar attacks on Israel. He made these remarks in a speech that aired on Noor TV (Iran) on May 6, 2021. General Emami explained that Iran can easily tighten its grip around "the throat of the Zionist regime" in order to extract pressure and exert concessions from America. He continued to say that while Israel has airplanes that can reach Iran, Iran does not require airplanes to target Israel, it can place Israel "under siege" via the artillery and mortar shells of the "resistance axis." General Emami said: "We can easily plough the cities of the Zionist regime," whenever Iran or the Supreme Leader Khamenei wants to. He continued to say that Iran's navy is present in the Mediterranean Sea as well as in the Red Sea, and they are prepared to hit Israel from there.
Iran's channel 1 aired a report about the IRGC commissioning new naval vessels on February 15, 2021. According to the report, the IRGC received hundreds of vessels and attack and suicide drones. Among the vessels received by the IRGC are speedboats that can fire light cruise missiles, boats that can launch torpedoes, and boats that can carry attack and suicide drones. According to the report, the Zolfaghar amphibious vessel has torpedo launching capabilities that can be used against aircraft carriers, oil rigs, and loading docks.
Ofogh TV (Iran) aired a music video titled "The Great Satan" on November 4, 2021, in honor of the anniversary of the 1979 student takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The video included a chorus of teen boys in military fatigues, singing: "Every act of evil and deceit is imprinted in America's essence [...] if you want to know [America's] essence, see the JCPOA."
Admiral Hossein Khanzadi commander of Iran's Navy said that in the past, Iran would only monitor American presence in the region and prepare a reaction to any possible "mischief", but now Iran is the one "initiating processes" in the Atlantic Ocean. He made his remarks in an interview that aired on Channel 1 (Iran) on July 10, 2021. Admiral Khanzadi said that the Iranian Navy is currently positioned 5,000 miles from U.S. borders. He said that while it has no plans of reaching the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. is "worried" because the "gates of the Atlantic Ocean" have been opened to Iran. Admiral Khanzadi added that while the U.S. had the "audacity" to establish military bases around Iran and to bring the fleet to its borders, claiming it is free to maintain its presence in international waters, 12 miles from Iranian shores, the Iranian Navy is 5,000 miles away from the United States. For more information about Admiral Khanzadi, see MEMRI TV clip no 7031.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran has figuratively chopped off both hands of those who carried out the "crimes" in Natanz by activating the IR-6 centrifuges and increasing uranium enrichment to 60%. He made these remarks in two public addresses aired on IRINN TV (Iran) on April 14-15, 2021. President Rouhani said that Iran will return to its JCPOA commitments immediately once the U.S. returns to implementing the agreement, including reducing the uranium enrichment from 60% and 20% to no more than 3.67%. He added that Iran can produce 90% enriched uranium if it decides to do so, but it is committed to a peaceful nuclear program, unlike the U.S., which he said amasses nuclear bombs.
IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami said in a meeting with commanders of Qods Force and the Revolutionary Guards from Gilan province that Iran has UAV capabilities that even the United States does not have, such has UAVs that can launch a ballistic missile that can hit a moving ship. General Salami's remarks aired on Channel 1 (Iran) on November 11, 2021.
In a meeting with Iranian medalists from the Tokyo Olympic Games and the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that a "free-born and proud athlete" cannot shake the hands of a "representative of a criminal regime," just for the sake of winning a medal. The meeting was aired on Channel 1 (Iran) on September 18, 2021. Khamenei said that the "brutal, genocidal, and illegitimate Zionist regime" is trying to gain legitimacy by participating in international sporting events with the support of "arrogant" America. He added that it is the job of the Sports Ministry, Foreign Ministry, and legal systems to provide Iranian athletes with the necessary legal and diplomatic support during these sporting events.
IRGC General Mohammad-Hossein Sepehr, commander of the Iranian Central Training Base, said that Iran has built Islamic resistance bases from Tehran to Baghdad, to Beirut, to Syria, to Sanaa in Yemen, and all the way to the Horn of Africa in order to fight the cancerous and pustular growth that is Israel. He made his remarks in a public address that was aired on Dena TV (Iran) on May 6, 2021. General Sepehr continued to say that the main strategy of global Zionism is the creation of Wahhabism, Baha'ism, Freemasonry and ISIS. He went on to say that Iran has a religious duty to defend Islam and annihilate Israel.
Former Iranian diplomat Amir Mousavi said that Iran will increase its nuclear activity in to match the U.S. delaying its return to the nuclear deal. He made his remarks in an interview that aired on Hona Baghdad TV (Iraq) on August 31, 2021. Mousavi explained that if the U.S. continues to "procrastinate" in returning to the deal, Iran will reduce its commitment to the deal and that he expects a great danger to the Western countries and the "Zionist entity." He said that Iran has already increased its enrichment, and while "the nuclear bomb is not part of Iran's plans, because of Imam Khamenei's fatwa," Iran's nuclear capabilities will be increased to a great extent and "Iran's hands will not remain tied."
Khamenei's representative in Markazi Province Gholamali Dorri-Najafabadi said that the reason that the Jews covet the material world, plunder, violate the Sabbat, and are child-murderers, is that the Torah barely mentions Judgment Day. He made his remarks in a Friday sermon that aired on Aftab TV (Iran) on July 30, 2021. Dorri-Najafabadi said that if a country wants to preserve its glory, then it must be strong and give up its daily bread. He said that the country must "raise a powerful fist against those man-eating wolves, the criminal Israelis, criminal ISIS, the dirty clan of Saud, the inwardly blind hypocrites, and at the head of all criminals - accursed America."
Emad Abshenas, a professor of international relations at Tehran University, said that the U.S. conveyed a message to Iran, saying that it will prevent Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities only if a favorable outcome is reached in the Vienna nuclear talks. He made these remarks in an interview that aired on
Al-Araby TV (Qatar) on June 8, 2021. However, said Abshenas, this was before the recent round of fighting between Palestinians and Israel, and after the "Zionist entity" suffered a "severe blow," such threats are no longer necessary. This is because "everybody knows" that the rockets used by Palestinian factions were manufactured thanks to Iranian technical know-how. He said that the U.S. and Europe are no longer in a position to threaten Iran. For more about Emad Abshenas, see MEMRI TV clips Nos. 8608, 8581, 8341, 8320, 8211, 8057, and 7939.
#9170 - Iranian Report On Military Drill Showcases Submarines, Anti-Ship Missiles, 'Suicide' Drone
On November 8, 2021, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a report about a military drill dubbed "Zulfiqar 1400 [2021]" that was carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The report showcased the Tareq submarine and its torpedo capabilities, and it showed the Qadir and Nasr anti-ship missiles being launched by Iranian vessels. The report also said that the Arash "suicide drone" has become operational.
Iranian TV host Arman Ghaffarian said that Iranians cannot pin their hopes on American coronavirus vaccine because the U.S. has a record of spreading diseases through experimentation all over the world. He made these remarks on a show that aired on Ofogh TV (Iran) on January 25, 2021. Ghaffarian said that all it takes is a "simple search" to discover the history of the U.S. infecting populations worldwide with diseases via experimentation. He claimed that the U.S. conducted a syphilis experiment in Guatemala in the 1940s and a 1959 AIDS experiment on Africans. Ghaffarian also suggested that the U.S. spread the dengue virus in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the early 1980s and the Ebola virus in Africa in 1975 among other claims.
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, editor-in-chief of the Iran Diplomatic Newspaper, warned Iran's neighbors that in case of war, Iran will attack neighboring countries and may even "wipe out some of them." In an interview with Palestine Today TV (Lebanon) on January 9, 2021, Abshenas said that "if there are reasonable people in the United States," they will not wait a "single moment" before invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which would remove President Trump from power. He later qualified his remark by saying that this is an internal American matter. Abshenas said that Iran does not need a nuclear bomb, because it could just attack the place where Israel stores its nuclear bombs, and this would have the effect of a nuclear attack. He added that the killing of 100, 200, or 1000 U.S. soldiers, the commander of CENTCOM, or even the Secretary of Defense would not be as significant as the killing of Qasem Soleimani, whose nail is worth more than all these people put together.
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, the Editor-in-Chief of the Iran Diplomatic journal, said in an October 28, 2021 interview on Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) that Israel is "far too small" to challenge Iran and that Iran could easily destroy Israel. He explained that Iran has been preparing for war against the United States for decades and that it has no need to prepare for war against Israel. Abshenas said that Israel is like an "open book" to Iran's intelligence services, which he claimed have surveillance throughout all of Israel, including its sensitive sites. He explained that Hizbullah could attack Israel's most sensitive targets, such as major infrastructure facilities, and that Iran does not even need nuclear weapons to destroy Israel, because it knows the location of Israel's nuclear arsenal, which would "do the job" if Iran targeted them. In addition, Abshenas said that the only Iranian nuclear plant that Israel can attack is the Bushehr plant, because all of Iran's other plants are underground, but an attack against Bushehr would cause damage mostly to the Arab countries along the Gulf.
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, the editor-in-chief of Iran Diplomatic Newspaper, said that Israel uses commercial vessels to smuggle spies, collaborators, terrorists, and weapons, therefore if Israeli ships want to enter the region, Iran will not only target them but will "destroy" them. His remarks came after an Israeli-owned commercial ship was attacked in the Gulf of Oman, and he spoke in an interview that aired on Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) on July 30, 2021. Abshenas also said that Iran has information about the location of the Israeli nuclear warheads, and it will be able to target them if it decides to do so one day. For more about Emad Abshenas, see MEMRI TV clips nos. 9003, 8608, 8581, 8341, 8320, 8211, 8057, 8939.
An animated video that aired on Aftab TV (Iran) called "The Big Lie" claims that the Zionists exploited the "myth of the Holocaust" in order to establish the State of Israel, which is the first phase in their plot to take over the world. The video claims that the goal of establishing the State of Israel was to gather the Jews in a specific place, a central spot at the convergence of the three continents, and to create a "safe zone" for the West in the heart of the Muslim area. The video aired on May 7, 2021, when Jerusalem Day is commemorated in Iran.
#8712 - U.S. Flag Crushed With A Karate Chop Followed By A 'Death To America' Message On Iranian TV
Channel 4 (Iran) February 23, 2021 aired a short, animated video, in which the U.S. flag is crushed by a karate chop, followed by a "Death to America" message.
Iranian Minister of Intelligence Mahmoud Alavi spoke about Iran's nuclear industry and the circumstances that would direct it towards producing nuclear weapons. He made his remarks in an interview with Channel 2, (Iran) that aired on February 8, 2021. He said that the JCPOA had not terminated the Iranian nuclear industry, that it has increased in quality, and now "operates in full force." He stated that the Iranian nuclear program is a peaceful one, and according to Supreme Leader Khamenei's anti-nuclear weapons fatwa, it is not allowed to produce nuclear weapons (for more about Khamenei's alleged anti-nuclear fatwa, see MEMRI Inquiry and analysis series Nos. 1478, 1458, 825, 1022 and 1151 and Special Dispatches No. 5406 and 5461). However, Alavi said, just like when a cat is pushed into a corner, Iran might "change its behavior" if pushed. He emphasized that if Iran is forced to produce nuclear weapons, this would not be Iran's fault but the fault of those who pushed it towards this direction.
Iranian channel 1 aired a heated presidential debate on June 5, 2021. Presidential candidate Abdolnasser Hemmati, former governor of Iran's Central Bank, accused Secretary of the Expediency Council, former IRGC commander-in-chief, and presidential candidate Mohsen Rezaee of preventing Iran from accepting the FATF, which "delivered a knockout" to Iran's economy. He added that Rezaee's threat of taking American hostages in order to increase foreign currency flow into the country never materialized.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps conducted the "Great Prophet 15" drill, which included the launching of several ballistic missiles, as reported by Channel 1 (Iran). Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, General Hossein Salami was present at the drill, as was the commander of the IRGC aerospace force, General Amir-Ali Hajizdeh, who said that the Iranian missiles render the naval power of the enemy "insufficient" in a radius of 2,000 kilometers. Ghadr-F, Emad, and Sijjil missiles were launched in the drill.
On November 4, 2021, in honor of the 42nd anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran, Channel 1 (Iran) aired a music video titled "Death to America." The lyrics of the song urged Iranians: "See [the] filthy hand of Satan [break] his promise in the JCPOA." The song continues: "Say all together, as one heart: Death to America!" Iranian TV has aired songs titled "Death to America" in the past. For more information, see MEMRI TV Clips No. 8579 and No. 7300.
Abolfazl Amouei, spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian Majles said that the steadfastness of the Islamic Republic would force the Biden administration to reexamine its policy towards Iran. He made these remarks in an interview that aired on Ofogh TV (Iran) on February 14, 2021. Amouei explained how the committee monitors Iran's implementation of the resolution to end voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol according to the Majles law.
Iranian political commentators Mohammad Marandi and Foad Izadi, who are considered experts on American politics, accompanied the IRINN TV (Iran) live broadcast of the U.S. Congress riots on January 6, 2021. Marandi apologized for laughing and said that the only reason there are no coups in America is that there is no American embassy there. Izadi said that the Americans are now experiencing the kind of coups that they have orchestrated in Iran and elsewhere in the world.
Former IRGC Commander-in-chief General Yahya Rahim-Safavi, Khamenei's senior advisor on the armed forces, spoke about Iran's military capabilities facing the Americans in the region in an interview, aired on Iran's channel 5 TV on January 1, 2021. He said that Iran's military intelligence is monitoring the American forces throughout the region and knows their strengths and weaknesses. General Rahim-Safavi added that America is vulnerable in the region, and Iran's forces are capable of turning the American aircraft carriers into submarines in a matter of hours. For more about General Rahim-Safavi, see MEMRI TV clips No. 8317, 7506, 7497, and 7275.
Former Iranian diplomat Amir Mousavi told Altaghier TV (Iraq) on January 13, 2021 that Iran welcomed Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay to Kermanshah after the Kuwait war, for "humanitarian" reasons. He explained that he had served as an interpreter for this delegation. Mousavi added that Iran had also allowed senior Iraqi officials such as Taha Yasin Ramadan and Tariq Aziz to fly out of Iran, because Iraq had been designated a no-fly zone.
On October 14, 2021, the Iranian website Didarnews.ir posted an interview with Mohammad-Qasem Mohebbali, who has served as Iran's Ambassador to Malaysia and Greece and as the director of Middle East and North African affairs in Iran's foreign ministry. Ambassador Mohebbali said that 40 years of economic sanctions have crippled Iranian economy and have left the country very far behind other countries in the region in terms of economic growth. Mohebbali then discussed the issue of Palestine, which he said has "paved the road" to many of the crises in the Middle East, such as Islamic extremism. He said that Iran has been a key player in making the Palestine issue a central issue in the Middle East, and he explained that Iran adopted the "slogans" of the Palestine issue as part of an attempt to align with Arab countries during the Iran-Iraq War and to prevent the Iran-Iraq War from becoming a war between Iran and the Arab world.
Iranian politician Alireza Zakani, head of the Majles Research Center said in the wake of the April 11 blast in the Natanz nuclear facility that Iran must increase uranium enrichment to more than 60%. He made these remarks in an interview that aired on Ofogh TV (Iran) on April 12, 2021. Zakani said that Iran needs uranium enriched to 56% in order to fuel the propellants in submarines and for "other purposes." He also said that uranium enrichment to more than 60% is what increases Iran's bargaining ability and it is also what Iran needs. Zakani said that the 20% enrichment in Fordow can be quickly directed in a way that would be "tangible" to the West. He stated: they will realize that they cannot toy with us. He said that Iran has become a "haven for spies," and the fact that Obama had agreed to pay $1.7 billion in exchange for the release of American journalist Jason Rezaian is a message to "all other spies" that their price is high and they should betray their country. Rezaian, an Iranian-American journalist, was imprisoned in Iran on espionage charges. For more about Alireza Zakani, see MEMRITV clips Nos. 8519, and 7253.
IRGC Qods Force Commander General Esmail Ghaani warned U.S. President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that they should take a lesson from Indian author Salman Rushdie, whose life has been threatened by the Iranian regime, how their lives will be from now on. General Ghaani said in his speech, which was aired on Channel 3 (Iran) on January 6, 2021 that the defeat of those who perpetrated the assassination of his predecessor, Qasem Soleimani, has already begun and it is "not inconceivable" that the revenge against this will come from within their "own home." Ghaani added that the followers of Allah have liberated Karbala and will also liberate Palestine and that their ultimate goal is the "global rule of the Hidden Imam.
Hossein Rouyvaran, a professor of political science at Tehran University, said in an October 16, 2021 show on Alghad TV (Egypt/UAE) that Iran will not tolerate Israeli missile bases on Azerbaijani territory, nor any change to international borders in the region that threaten Iranian interests. He compared the situation to the Cuban Missile Crisis. For more about Professor Hossein Rouyvaran, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 8284 and 982.
Iran's army marked Air Defense Day by showcasing its new radar system, Alborz, and its new command and control system, Borhan. A report about the event was aired on Channel 1 (Iran) on September 1, 2021. The anchor on Iran's Channel 1 TV said that "Alborz and Borhan are the gift of the army's air defense to Iran's skies." General Alireza Sabahi Fard, the commander of the Iranian army's Air Defense Force, described the capabilities of the Alborz, a three-dimensional radar system with a range of 450 km. General Samad Aghamohammadi, the head of the army's Air Defense Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization elaborated on the qualities of the Borhan command and control system, which is considered to be a "command center," which can control various weapons systems.
#8886 - Iran Unveils New 'Gaza' Drone, Missile Defense System
Iran unveiled its new "Gaza" drone in a report that aired on Channel 1 (Iran) on May 21, 2021. The "Gaza" drone is reported to be a super heavy UAC, with surveillance, combat, and intelligence capabilities. The report also showcased the "9th of Dey" surface-to-air missile defense system, and the Qods radar system. General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC Aerospace Corps, who visited the construction site, explained that the name Qods, i.e. Jerusalem, was chosen because "these days, everything is about Gaza and Jerusalem."
General Hossein Salami, commander-in-Chief of the IRGC spoke about Iran's ballistic missile capability on Al-Manar TV (Hizbullah-Lebanon) on January 7, 2021. He said that Iran now has so many missiles that they have a problem finding depots to store them all. Salami said that Iran's missile power is one of its essential "pillars of deterrence." He added that the issue of Iran's ballistic missiles is non-negotiable, and its "fundamental policy" regarding the missiles will enable it to conduct a lengthy missile war. Salami added that seeing that the Trump era is drawing to a close, and it seems unlikely that the U.S. would enter into a long war in the region, at the behest of Saudi Arabia or Israel. Regarding the "reactionary and lackey countries" that have normalized relations with Israel, Salami said that Iran "will not overlook and we will not forgive any country that becomes a source of threat [...] anyone who hosts threats [against Iran] will have to pay the price for that."
A short Iranian animated video simulating the destruction of the Israeli nuclear facility in Dimona in a missile attack was posted on a Telegram Account affiliated with the IRGC, on the occasion of Iranian "Jerusalem Day," on May 7, 2021. The video featured an hourglass and a caption reading "in time for destruction". This was replaced with the caption: "The destruction of the Zionist regime and the liberation of Jerusalem in the near future are required and certain."
General Mazaher Majidi, the IRGC commander in Hamedan Province, said that Iran carried out retaliatory acts against Israeli targets, in an interview that aired on Hamedan TV (Iran) on May 7, 2021. He claimed that Iran was behind an explosion in an Israeli weapons factory and an attack on its atomic facilities that took place in April 2021, as well as an incident in the Haifa oil refineries. General Majidi said: "We did it, and it was according to a plan." He also said that Iran has dozens of forces modeled after Hizbullah in Lebanon that are ready to carry out military operations in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
In a play staged at the Shrine of the 8th Imam Ali Reza in Mashhad, a Jew, an American, a Brit, and a Saudi conspire against Iran and claim that Iran seeks to annihilate Israel and destroy the entire world. The play was aired on Khorasan Razavi TV (Iran) on March 20, 2021. According to the play, the Zionists created ISIS along with the Americans in order to fight "Shi'ite Iran." The characters plot to remove the love of the Mahdi from the hearts of the Shi'ites by creating religious innovations and false messiahs, as well as turning Islamophobia into "Shiaphobia" and "Mahdiphobia." The play is concluded with children carrying Islamic banners and a song stating: "Death to America!" The play was staged in an event marking the last day of the solar year.
Iranian Islamic scholar Ahmed Abedi detailed the roles IRGC Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani played in various countries in the region. He made these remarks during a public address that was aired on Noor TV (Iran) on February 6, 2021. Abedi said that Soleimani was active in building religious centers in Najaf, Iraq, with Hizbullah in South Lebanon building a tunnel that extend into Israel, and creating concentrated medical programs for Yemenis, training them to become surgeons in just six months. He said that Soleimani had also created many centers for monitoring Iranian Jews who were "Zionist spies."
Ali-Akbar Salehi head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) detailed recent developments in the country's nuclear field in a press conference, aired on IRINN TV (Iran) on January 5, 2021. He said that the nuclear project in Iran is the largest industrial project in Iran and it is the most costly. Salehi said that the yellow cake production has been multiplied by eight, he added that production of the 20% enriched uranium started with 24 hours, and that Iran is now capable of producing 120 tons of uranium enriched by 20% per year, as required by the law passed in the Majles. He said: "None of the AEOI activities have been slowed down or stopped." He added that Iran is in the process of installing over 320 IR2M centrifuges, and in a year's time, Iran will be able to produce 1,000 IR6 centrifuges. He added that Iran's president Rouhani gave instructions to finance this very costly project.
Channel 1 of the Iranian TV aired a song titled "the Promise of a Hero" to mark the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis. The lyrics for the Farsi-Arabic-Hebrew song were written by Esmaeel. The singers, who are dressed in IRGC uniforms, pledge revenge for Soleimani and Al-Muhandis, and add: "Let us blow up the den of Satan [...] Victory shall be ours. It is the responsibility of Qaani," the new IRGC Qods Force Commander. They sing: "We shall not allow the colonialists to stay on our land" and repeatedly proclaim: "Death to America! Death to Israel!"
Spokesman of the Iranian Armed Forces, Brigadier-General Abolfazl Shekarchi, said that Afghanistan must not fall again into the lap of the U.S., U.K., and the "Zionist entity." He made his remarks in an interview that aired on Al-Alam TV (Iran) on September 8, 2021. Shekarchi went on to say that the U.S., the "number-one enemy of the Iranian people" brought its "guard dog," the "Zionist entity," to the region, and "from time to time this dog barks." He added that Israel does not have the courage or the capability to attack Iran, however, he said, if it "perpetrates any strategic mistake, it will be slapped in the face."
Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem said that the vast majority of accusations against the Taliban are false, but that they are only human and had possibly made mistakes. He made these remarks in an interview that aired on Ofogh TV (Iran) on August 21, 2021. The Iranian interviewer responded saying that the Taliban's "mistakes" include violence against women and ethnic minorities, and this goes beyond acceptable mistakes by governments. Naeem responded that in the Western countries that criticize the Taliban, many women are raped, people commit suicide, and children suffer from violence, but this is not reported by the press. Regarding the scenes at Kabul airport, Naeem said that the Americans told the Afghans they would take them to America, and in anywhere else in the world, such as Iran, the scenes of Afghans hanging on to airplanes taking off would be repeated. The Iranian TV host denied this would ever happen in Iran.
Iranian composer Sattar Oraki made a rare public protest when he declared his support for the youths of Khuzestan upon receiving the best soundtrack award at an independent documentary film festival that was held in Tehran. Oraki said that although people are expected to chant "death" to America, Israel, England, Russia, and China, his chant is "death to that group of incompetent and inadequate officials who brought our country to this state!" He then added: "I hope that the bullets that they aim and shoot at the chests of our youths will soon (become) a spear that will turn against them." He concluded by saying that he dedicates the award to Khuzestan. Khuzestan was the center of public protest over the lack of water and electricity blackout since mid-July. The film festival award was held on August 5, 2021 and the video was posted on various YouTube channels.
On October 7, 2021, Tasnim News Agency published a video purportedly showing IRGC Navy boats intercepting American vessels in the Gulf.
Khamenei's Representative in Fars Province Lotfollah Dezhkam said that the Iranians stand by their word, and unlike the American, English, and German "non-men," Iran abided by the JCPOA. He made his remarks in a Friday sermon, delivered in Shiraz, Iran and aired on Fars TV (Iran) on February 5, 2021. The worshippers in the mosque responded to this by chanting: "Death to America!" repeatedly. Dezhkam continued to say that these countries now want to start new negotiations, but this will only happen "in their dreams." He said that there would be no negotiations this time around, and their warships would sink one after the other in the ocean.
Dr. Ebrahim Mottaghi, a professor at Tehran University said that Jews control all the "new main centers of power" in that the U.S. and this grants them a high status. He made his remarks in an interview that aired on Fars TV (Iran) on April 24, 2021. Dr. Mottaghi said that the Jews control the media, banks, think tanks, the economy, and the development of technology and thought. He added that there are only six million Jews among 330 million Americans, but they hold special positions in the power structure.
Former Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Larijani said that relations with Iran are strategic for China, and the same is true for its economic cooperation with Iran. He made these remarks in an interview that aired on Ofogh TV (Iran) on July 17, 2021. Larijani continued to say that China is not the same country as it was 10 years ago, when he was sent there by Ahmadinejad, who was president at the time, to discuss sanctions. He claimed that the Chinese told him that they must first reach a "threshold of economic and industrial development" before they could confront America directly, but now this has happened. Larijani said that America, the Europeans, and the West are megalomaniacs, that they could possibly be "the worst people for cooperation," they are unreliable partners, and cannot be trusted with anything. He explained that the Americans have no reason for this megalomania, especially when facing Iran, the "cradle of civilization." Larijani further said that the Americans were cowboys who only came 300 years ago and that there is no real "American culture." He added that Iran should not cut diplomatic ties with Western countries, but they should cooperate with them only as much as it serves the interests of Iran.
Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas said in a December 30, 2020 interview on Alghad TV (UAE/Egypt) that Iran's military is fully prepared for a confrontation with the United States, despite Iran's economic difficulties. He said that some people think it is necessary for Iran to go to war with the United States in order to create a situation in which America would be willing to lift the economic sanctions against Iran.
Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iranian intelligence agencies keep many ordinary Iranian citizens and political activists under surveillance and wiretap. He made these remarks in an interview that was posted on his official YouTube channel on May 29, 2021. Ahmadinejad claimed that Iranian intelligence agencies installed surveillance cameras on his home and asked why they were concentrating these efforts on keeping tabs on him, while they fail to protect the Natanz nuclear plant from explosions or prevent nuclear documents from being taken to other countries. The interviewer suggested that surveillance of Ahmadinejad was done in order to protect him, to which Ahmadinejad said that his life is "out in the open." He added, referring to Iran's intelligence agencies: "You people are betraying our country." Ahmadinejad served as President of Iran from 2005 to 2013. His candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections in Iran was rejected.
IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami said that the U.S. is helpless and has "kneeled before Iran." He made these remarks in a public address that aired on Channel 1 and Ofogh TV (Iran) on May 19, 2021. General Salami added that Iran now sets the terms. He said that two thirds of the Zionist cities became targets for the rockets of the "Palestinian resistance" and that there is not a single "safe point" left for any Zionist. General Salami further said that all the defense systems relied on by the Israeli regime, including David's Sling, Iron Dome, and the Patriot system, were all "left helpless and succumbed under the sheer volume of missiles."
General Mohammad-Reza Naghdi, Deputy IRGC Commander-in-Chief for Coordination said that according to Zionist traditions, the regime is near its end, therefore the Zionists are setting their sights on Patagonia. He made these remarks in an interview that aired on Channel 3 (Iran) on May 7, 2021. General Naghdi explained that the Zionists are buying up land and homes in the region and "spread the Hebrew language." He continued to recommend that people who came from other countries should return to their countries of origin, because things might "get tough" in the country's final days. General Naghdi added that the people of Iran should understand that if Iran defends the resistance, the resistance will defend Iran, if the need arises.
The son of an Iranian, who was killed in Syria, read a "letter to Qasem Soleimani" on Iranian channel 5 TV on January 1, 2021. In the letter, the boy says that he, along with the other children of the martyrs, promises to be loyal to the Supreme Leader Khamenei, who is "more dear to us than our own lives." He said that the revenge for Soleimani's assassination would mean "the complete annihilation of America and Israel."
Ebrahim Raisi, head of Iran's judiciary said in a memorial for IRGC Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani, which was aired on IRINN TV (Iran) on January 1, 2020, that Iran will exact revenge against anyone who was involved in the assassination of Soleimani. He said that those who gave the order to assassinate Soleimani as well as those who "committed the crime" will not be safe anywhere on the globe. Raisi added that even the President of the United States is not immune to Iranian justice. For more about Raisi, see MEMRI TV clips No. 7654 and 7327.
Ali-Akbar Salehi, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (IAEO) said that "if the need arises," as Supreme Leader Khamenei put it, Iran is capable of increasing uranium enrichment to 60% within 24 hours. He made these remarks in an interview from the Tehran research reactor, which aired on Channel 2 (Iran) on February 26, 2021. Salehi said that Iran could not stop enriching uranium to 20% if it wanted to do so, because it is obliged to produce 120 kg of 20% enriched uranium within a year. He added that at the current rate of production, Iran is expected to reach this goal within five or six months and then the Majles will have to decide whether production should be continued. Salehi said that despite those who committed the "evil act" of targeting the Natanz nuclear facility, Iran has returned to producing 60-70% of the centrifuges it was capable of producing before the attack in less than a month. He added that now Iran is busy digging deep into the mountains in order to create more space for its nuclear facilities.
Qods Force commander IRGC general Esmail Qaani spoke at a Tehran University memorial, marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of the previous Qods Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, which aired on IRINN TV (Iran) on January 1, 2020. He warned those who "committed the crime" of the assassination of Soleimani, that they have created more work for all the "free people of the world." He said that even in their own homes, there may be someone who will "repay them in kind" for this crime.
Fereydoon Abbasi, chairman of the Majles Energy Committee and former chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said that the recent explosion in the Natanz nuclear facility was caused by a sabotaged electricity hub. He made these remarks in an interview that aired on channel 3 (Iran) on April 12, 2021, one day after the explosion. Abbasi said that it was the electricity distribution system, supplying electricity to the centrifuge assembly hall 40-50 meters underground that was targeted along with the batteries that were supposed to maintain electric supply in case of a power outage. Abbasi complimented "the enemy" on their "brilliant" plan, saying it was well-thought out.
An animated video titled "Peace to Jerusalem" was aired on Khorasan Shomali TV (Iran) on May 7, 2021. The video recreated the killing of Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani. In the video, Soleimani is heard saying that the "the victory over the plunderers of humanity" is near, and that the "tree of resistance" has sent branches to every corner of the world. Soleimani says: "Now, I can peacefully and calmly achieve what I desired all my life," and asks to be accepted as a martyr. The video then showed a recreation of the attack on Ayn Al-Asad U.S. air base. The video went on to show a hypothetical attack by Iranian-backed militias against IDF forces, which concluded with the liberation of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. All this is made possible by the angels of Allah who facilitate the militias' victories.
Khalijefars TV (Iran) aired a report about a new "missile city," revealed in Hormozgan Province, Iran on January 8, 2021. During the ceremony, IRGC General Hossein Salami said that the facility was built for deterrence and defensive purposes and that these missiles bases are spread throughout Iran. He added that the missiles have a range of hundreds of kilometers and "their accuracy is complete." General Salami said that these missiles have great destructive power and can bypass the enemy's electronic warfare systems. He added that these systems are ready to be launched if "the devils, the arrogant, and our enemies, decide [to attack Iran]."
Former Iranian Minister of Oil General Rostam Ghasemi, Qods Force Commander's assistant for economic affairs said that Israel is behind every sabotage operation around the world and in Iran and that Israel's actions will not go unanswered. He made these remarks in an interview with Russia Today TV that aired on April 21, 2021. General Ghasemi said that while Iran has "espoused a policy of patience and restraint," it has retaliated against Israel with the help of its "many friends in the region" and it will continue to do so. He added that the Yemenis participated in retaliation against Israeli ships. General Ghasemi continued to say that "all the weapons the Yemenis possess are a result of our aid." For more information about General Ghasemi, see MEMRI TV clip no. 7080.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that America and the world would have to kneel before the "great nation" of Iran and they would be forced to give up their "oppressive" sanctions. President Rouhani made his remarks during a public address that was aired on IRINN TV (Iran) on March 1, 2021. President Rouhani added that the fact that the "murderous butcher in America," referring to former U.S. President Trump, was toppled is a great victory for Iran. He continued to say that the new Biden administration has acknowledged that the maximum pressure policy was a mistake and a failure. President Rouhani said that the fact that those who imposed the sanctions have admitted to the failure of this policy is Iran's "greatest success in history".
Iranian General Chahrbaghi, the former commander of the IRGC artillery, said that Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei had sent IRGC Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani to Syria in order to protect Bashar Al-Assad's regime. He made these remarks in an interview with Channel 5 (Iran) that aired on January 1, 2021. General Chahrbaghi said that Al-Assad's regime had been an ally of Iran and it supported it during the Iran-Iraq war. He explained that Soleimani was sent to Iran to make sure that Al-Assad's regime was not toppled, because this would have caused great problems for Iran. General Chahrbaghi added that when Soleimani first arrived on the scene in 2012, ISIS was not yet involved in the war in Syria. He continued to say that at first, the IRGC role in Syria was only an advisory one, as publicly stated, however, once it became evident that the "whole world" strived to topple Bashar Al-Assad's regime, this had changed.
