Tasnim, the news agency of the IRGC, reports that the general visited the troops concentrated at the local Ashura training center. The visit takes place amid a growing risk of a new military escalation between Azerbaijan and Armenia and reports of Iran concentrating troops at the border with Azerbaijan.
The agency reports that the general spoke to the troops and assessed their level of combat training, vigilance and morale. Pakpour also attended daytime and nighttime tactical exercises.
“The issue of security knows no cold, heat, holidays or weekdays. We must be as vigilant and prepared as possible. Always pay close attention to these issues,” the commander said, addressing the troops.
According to the information circulated in Telegram channels, Iran has recently been concentrating military equipment and missile systems, as well as manpower, at the border with the Nakhchivan region of Azerbaijan, including along the coast of the Araz River. At the same time, IRGC propaganda resources portray Azerbaijan as an enemy and make threats. For example, a recently posted video shows a pack of Shahed kamikaze drones flying over the Araz River toward Azerbaijan, with the message “One day we will come” running in the background.
The Iranian regime has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the opening of the Zangezur corridor, warning that it “will not allow the internationally recognized borders in the region to be changed.”