TEHRAN -- Army Chief of Staff Brigadier General Seyyed Abdurrahim Musavi said here on Thursday that the foundation of the strength of the Islamic Republic of Iran rests on belief in God and not on reliance on military equipment.

Speaking at a gathering of military attaches from 43 countries, Musavi stated that Iran is not a warmonger country, but it can teach any invaders a lesson that they would never forget.

Referring to Iran’s Army Day (April 19), he said that during the eight years of the Iran–Iraq war and alongside the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and the Law Enforcement Forces, the Iranian Army defended the borders of the Islamic Republic and created many eternal epics.

He went on to say that every single Iranian citizen is proud of the eye-catching achievements of young Iranian scientists and technicians.

Iran’s use of state-of-the-art military equipment in the recent Great Prophet (S) war games and the fact that the Islamic Republic has gained access to the complete nuclear fuel cycle and has made great progress in the fields of nanotechnology and stem cell research have made Iran one of the world’s leading countries, Musavi observed.

Pointing to Iran’s complete adherence to international law, respect for the rights of other nations, and endeavors to establish world peace and security as some of the main policy objectives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Musavi said that Iran believes that peace and security can be established in the Middle East through cooperation among regional countries.

However, the interference of foreign forces in developments in the Middle East will only exacerbate the critical situation in the region, he added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Musavi said that the Iranian Armed Forces are totally aware of what is going on in the region and are ready to defend the legitimate interests, values, and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic.

Every Iranian national believes that it is the inalienable right of Iran to possess civilian nuclear technology, he noted.

Therefore, the Iranian nation will continue its sincere cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international organizations but will not relinquish its legal right to access to the complete nuclear fuel cycle, he explained.

Addressing the military attaches, Musavi stated that Iran is the second home of all foreign guests.

Military attaches are some of the most significant elements for the development of bilateral relations between countries, so the Islamic Republic of Iran expects them to fairly reflect Iran-related issues in their countries, just as they have always done, he said in conclusion.

Later in the gathering, General Mohammad al-Qalil, the military attaché of the Syrian Embassy in Tehran, said that Iran has become a developed country, adding, “We have always witnessed Iran’s efforts to promote peace in the region.”

Iran has always sought peace and security for the region and the world, he told Iranian military commanders and foreign military attachés attending the meeting.