BICOM

The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), General Mohammad Ali Jafari, issued a new threat against Israel yesterday, declaring any new war in the Middle East will lead to its “eradication”.

“It is a proven claim that today we say any new war will lead to the eradication of the Zionist regime,” said Jafari at a Tehran press conference reported on the semi-official state news agency Fars, and followed a summit in Sochi where the leaders of Russia, Turkey and Iran convened to discuss the end of Syria’s civil war.

On Syria, Jafari said that the IRGC “are ready to play an active role in establishing a lasting ceasefire in Syria … and the reconstruction of the country”. Iranian commanders have been actively involved in Syrian operations to support the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assads.

Israel has warned world leaders about Iran’s entrenchment in Syria, most recently when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Russian President Putin on Tuesday evening and French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week.

According to Channel 10 news, Netanyahu told the French President: “Israel has tried up until now not to intervene in what is going on in Syria. But after the victory over Islamic State, the situation has changed because the pro-Iranian forces have taken control. From now on, Israel sees Iran’s activities in Syria as a target. We will not hesitate to act, if our security needs require us to do so.”

Jafari also told reporters that Lebanon is Israel’s primary target today and that “resistance” experienced by Israel in previous conflicts with Iran-backed Hezbollah and Hamas was minor in comparison to their current capabilities.

He rejected demands that Hezbollah be disarmed, saying the issue is “non-negotiable” and said the organisation “must be armed to fight against the enemy of the Lebanese nation which is Israel. Naturally they should have the best weapons to protect Lebanon’s security”.

Regarding their role in the Yemeni civil war, he denied giving military support to the Houthis, claiming that “Iran only provides advisory and spiritual assistances to Yemen”.

Jafari also repeated Iran’s stance on its ballistic missile programme, claiming it is for defensive purposes and “Iran will not negotiate its defensive programme … there will be no talks about it”.

Macron said earlier this month that Iran should be less aggressive in the region and should clarify the strategy around its ballistic missile programme.