Iran says military strength empowers its diplomatic stance

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that Tehran's military strength enabled it to confidently seek peace in the region, a day before talks with arch-foe the United States were due to resume.

“With the army behind us, we can express our positions on peace, stability, and regional cooperation from a position of strength,” Pezeshkian said during a ceremony marking Army Day.

He added that the armed forces have helped position Iran as a regional power and said the country now produces its own military equipment. “We build what we need on land, in the air, and at sea,” he said.

Pezeshkian praised the army’s role in responding to national crises and described it as a reliable force alongside the government and people.

The Iranian army, reliant on conscription, is equipped mainly with older generation weapons, many produced during the Soviet Union.

His comments came days after the first round of talks between Iranian and US officials in Oman. Following the talks, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told military commanders that Iran’s armed forces must maintain maximum readiness to counter external threats. He described the military as the country’s shield and accused foreign powers of trying to weaken public trust in it.

President Donald Trump has threatened strikes if Iran fails to come to an agreement with the United States to curtail or dismantle its nuclear program.

“Armies that lack conviction, courage, and trust in their cause have collapsed, no matter how heavily equipped they were,” Khamenei said.

Khamenei also called for upgrades in weapons, logistics, and personnel support, alongside a continued focus on ideological commitment. Senior military officials echoed the message, saying Iran’s armed forces remain fully prepared and supported by the public.