Iran Army Chief Amir Hatami Says Iranian Army Is Ready to Confront Any Threat

Iran’s top army leadership used Army Day messages to project full-spectrum readiness and to frame any external pressure as something the armed forces are prepared to confront.

“Commander of the Iranian Army Major General Amir Hatami stressed the country’s full military preparedness to confront threats and aggression, stating that the Armed Forces remain vigilant and ready to respond decisively”

Al-Manar TV Lebanon

Major General Amir Hatami, the commander of the Iranian Army, issued a message on Friday “on the occasion of Farvardin 29th, marking Army Day,” stressing that “the Iranian Army, following the commands of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei” relies on “indigenous capabilities, up-to-date knowledge, and a strong spirit.”

Al-Manar TV Lebanon

In the same message, Hatami said the Army “considers itself a self-sacrificing defender of the security and tranquility of the Iranian nation while maintaining vigilance and combat readiness.”

He added that the Army, “with firm determination, watchful eyes, an iron will, and ‘fingers on the trigger,’ stands ready to confront any threat or act of aggression by enemies” and “will remain committed to its pledge until the last breath.”

IRNA’s English-language version of the message likewise described Hatami’s “firm resolve, vigilant eyes, an iron will, and fingers on the trigger” as the posture of the Iranian military “to confront any threat or aggression from enemies.”

Tasnim also carried the same core language, saying Hatami underscored the Army’s readiness and defensive role and that it would “move steadfastly and powerfully toward realizing the lofty ideals of the Islamic Revolution and serving the people.”

The repeated phrasing across outlets positioned the Army Day statements as both a political reaffirmation and a operational warning in the language of deterrence and combat readiness.

Beyond Hatami’s message, other Iranian military commanders used Army Day to emphasize unity across Iran’s security and defense institutions and to describe obedience to the Supreme Leader as the organizing principle for readiness.

PressTV quoted Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, saying “The Armed Forces, people, and officials of a strong Iran are ready in a united manner and in complete coherence in obedience to Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief [Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei] to make the enemies regret their actions.”

Crypto Briefing

Abdollahi framed the posture as a response to “the country’s enemies and ill-wishers, particularly the United States and the Israeli regime,” asserting they “have no option but to yield to the greatness and strength of the Iranian Armed Forces and resilient nation.”

PressTV also listed the institutions he said were aligned for defense: “the Iranian Armed Forces are in full unity with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), the law enforcement and border guards, the Ministry of Defense and the Basij (voluntary) forces.”

PressTV further said Abdollahi reiterated that “the Iranian Armed Forces, officials and nation are united and coherent to continue their fight against the enemies until a complete victory is achieved.”

In a separate account, WANA described Hatami’s Army Day statement as stressing the armed forces’ readiness “to respond to any potential threat or act of aggression” and reaffirming commitment “until the very last breath.”

Pars Today added additional framing by quoting Hatami’s description of the Army as “an embodiment of ‘stern against the infidels, compassionate among themselves,’” and it tied readiness to a directive structure obeying “the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief.”

Iran’s Army Air Force leadership also used the same readiness theme, describing the armed forces as prepared “to confront any level of threat” and linking current posture to historical pledges and past operations.

“Tehrean, IRNA – Chief Commander of Iran’s Army Major General Amir Hatami says that with firm resolve, vigilant eyes, an iron will, and fingers on the trigger, Iranian military stands ready to confront any threat or aggression from enemies, and remain committed to their covenant until their last breath”

IRNA English

Shafaqna reported that Air Force Brigadier General Pilot Bahman Behmard, commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Air Force, told a meeting of air and air defense commanders and personnel that “The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with unwavering and decisive resolve, are ready to confront any level of threat.”

Shafaqna said Behmard referred to “47 years have passed since the inspiring movement of 19 Bahman 1357 and the epoch-making pledge of our revolution’s veterans with the Imam Khomeini,” and it described the Air Force as the “heir to that revolutionary movement.”

The report said Behmard described modernization and transformation through “three short-term executable strategies, mid-term reform-oriented and long-term capability-building,” and it asserted that the Air Force “has the capacity to respond to threats in regional and supra-regional spaces.”

Shafaqna also described the Air Force’s actions in the “12-day-imposed war,” stating that “in the 12-day war, undaunted by enemy attacks, the Air Force, in addition to scrambling missions, aerial patrols, and unmanned offensive operations, carried out toward the targets of the illegitimate Zionist regime one of the largest expansions of air power in the shortest possible time.”

It added that Behmard said “the willingness of a broad spectrum of retired colleagues” to return to service and participate in operational flights was one manifestation of Iranian zeal.

The report also included a personal detail about air force medical staff, saying “one employee of the Beasasth Hospital treatment complex who remained on duty after his wife was identified among the martyrs of enemy aggression.”

The Iranian military’s messaging also intersected with disputes over claims by the United States, with one outlet describing Amir Hatami’s response to President Donald Trump’s assertions about Iranian capabilities.

VOI.id said the “Supreme Commander of the Iranian Armed Forces, Amir Hatami, has hit back at US President Donald Trump's claim that US forces had destroyed the Iranian military.”

PressTV

VOI.id reported that Hatami said Iran’s air force “still has the ability and is ready to provide security, even for state guests,” and it linked the point to “the escort of the Pakistani delegation who visited Tehran, Iran on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.”

In the statement carried by VOI.id, Hatami said: “Yesterday we had a guest. As soon as he entered our country's airspace, we announced that we did not need his plane,” and VOI.id said the statement was “via video broadcast by the IRNA news agency, Thursday, April 16.”

VOI.id further said the arrival of the Pakistani delegation in Tehran was “escorted by a number of Iranian F-4 Phantoms fighter jets,” and it described the delegation’s visit as part of “Pakistan's efforts as a mediator to arrange the second round of US-Iranian negotiations.”

VOI.id also reported that Hatami denied Trump’s statement about the destruction of the Iranian Navy, saying: “The Iranian Navy stands firm today, and the enemy keeps a distance of 300 kilometers,” and it said Trump had claimed to have eliminated Iran’s naval and air capabilities.

The same VOI.id article quoted Trump’s national address language about “Operation Epic Fury” and said Trump claimed the United States was “systematically crippling the regime's ability to threaten America or project power beyond their borders.”

While the Army Day messages emphasized deterrence and readiness, at least one outlet also described an Iran claim of a direct attack on American troops, tying the rhetoric to an alleged operational event.

“Commander of Iran’s highest operational command unit says the country’s enemies and ill-wishers, particularly the United States and the Israeli regime, have no option but to yield to the greatness and strength of the Iranian Armed Forces and resilient nation”

PressTV

Crypto Briefing said “Iran’s army chief Amir Hatami claimed Iranian forces launched a comprehensive attack on US troops in Isfahan during a US operation to rescue a downed pilot, amid the ongoing 2026 conflict.”

sharghdaily

It added that “The rescue operation reported by US sources confirms the presence of US ground forces inside Iran,” and it framed the market and diplomatic uncertainty by saying “Trump’s announcement about ending military operations against Iran remains unresolved.”

Crypto Briefing also stated that “Hatami’s claim of an all-out attack on US forces, if accurate, would represent a direct escalation against American personnel on Iranian soil,” and it said this would “complicate any path toward de-escalation.”

In the same broader set of Iranian statements, Tabnak—citing IRNA—portrayed the Army’s posture as a “crushing response” to threats, saying Lieutenant General Amir Hatami spoke on “Wednesday, 17 Dey 1404” and described the era as efforts to “shape a new world order.”

Tabnak quoted Hatami saying: “Full readiness of the armed forces; we will cut off the hand of any aggressor,” and it also said he warned that “the readiness of the armed forces of Islamic Iran is far greater than before the war.”

Tabnak further asserted that “The Islamic Republic regards the intensified rhetoric of enemies against the Iranian people as a threat and will not leave it without a response.”