Tehran: Chief Commander of the Iranian Army, Major General Amir Hatami, has asserted that enemy forces refrained from approaching Iran's coastlines during recent US-Israel conflicts against the nation, attributing this to the formidable defense mounted by the Army's Air Force and other military divisions.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Hatami, speaking at a ceremony honoring the families of martyrs at Imam Ali Officers' Academy, stated that Iran engaged in a defensive war, effectively countering the enemy's objectives. He emphasized that although Iran faced aggressive attacks, the nation's defense was executed with immense strength.

Hatami elaborated on the nature of military engagements, highlighting the distinction between offensive and defensive wars. He asserted that while Iran sought to repel aggression and safeguard its territory, it was deceitfully attacked during ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving national issues. Both conflicts, initiated by Israel and the United States, erupted amidst such diplomatic efforts.

The first conflict commenced on June 13 last year, lasting for 12 days, followed by a second war on February 28 of this year, which extended for 40 days. In both instances, the Iranian Armed Forces compelled the adversary to request a ceasefire. Hatami pointed out that the enemy's campaign aimed to subjugate the Iranian nation and dismantle the Islamic Republic, but these objectives were ultimately unfulfilled.

During the conflicts, the Iranian Army's ground and naval forces, alongside the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) units, were strategically positioned along the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman coastlines, effectively deterring enemy forces from nearing Iranian shores. Hatami declared that not a single inch of Iranian territory was lost, underscoring the political and strategic defeat suffered by the adversaries, while Iran emerged stronger on the global stage.