As part of Basij Week in Iran, a Tehran parade yesterday featured the first display of heavy weapons in the Basij's possession, among them Katyusha missiles, Fajr 3 and Fajr 5 missiles, air defense systems, fighting boats, aerial battle units, and self-propelled guns.
The parade was attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said that the Basij was a strategic force that guarantees that threats to the regime will be repelled.
The Iranian daily Kayhan underlined statements by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei calling the Basij forces "the infinite reserves of the Islamic Revolution and Islam."
IRGC political bureau head Gen. Yadollah Javani said that the Basij's participation in repelling soft threats must not weaken its battle readiness.
Sources: Kayhan, Iran, November 26, 2008; Fars, Iran, November 25, 2008; Sobh-e Sadeq, Aftab, Iran, November 24, 2008
