Iran’s Army Symbol of Support for Nation, Not Belligerence: President

“Our Army is not the symbol of belligerence, but the emblem of backing for the nation and national interests,” President Rouhani said in a message released on Friday on the occasion of the National Army Day.

The message was read by Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami at a parade held in Tehran to celebrate the Army Day and the Ground Force Day.

Instead of holding the annual military parades to mark the Army Day, the Iranian military units held health service parades across the country, dubbed “Guardians of Homeland, Health Assistants”, to express readiness to assist the medical society in the battle with the novel coronavirus.

Elsewhere in his message, President Rouhani lauded the Army for safeguarding the Iranian nation against the overt and covert enemies in all circumstances, in peacetime or during wartime, in the hard and soft warfare, in the battlefield or on the streets, in the military bases, and in the hospitals.

Describing the novel coronavirus as the hidden enemy in the current conditions, the president said the doctors and nurses are at the forefront of the battle with the disease, while the Army is supporting the medical society.

“We are confident that a front relying upon the nation, the Army and the Armed Forces will definitely emerge victorious,” Rouhani underlined.

In the “service parade” held in Tehran and 24 other provincial capitals on Friday morning, the Army units displayed a range of public health equipment, including disinfection gear, mobile hospitals, special vehicles for disinfecting and sanitizing the public places, as well as the humanitarian aids provided by the Army personnel.

This year, the Army decided to carry out an alternative plan for military parades to prevent any gathering of people in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus and help the medical staff in the battle with COVID-19.