NEZAJA ‘Moharram’ rapid reaction force exercise- Phase I

Iran media imagery of NEZAJA rapid reaction force participating in Moharram maneuvers, taking place 18OCT15 at Kermanshah and Ilam provinces:

NEZAJA BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles with deployed mechanized infantry rapid reaction force

NEZAJA mechanized infantry equipped with G3-A4 battle rifles, before BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles (command variant, far right).

On the move, NEZAJA BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle command variant

Turret and main armament detail of NEZAJA BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle command variant

NEZAJA mechanized infantry inside and atop BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles

NEZAJA mechanized infantry disembarking from BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle

NEZAJA mechnized infantry corporals equipped with Iran license-built G3-A4 battle rifles

NEZAJA Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Kiomars Heydari (R2), among BG2 with 65th Airborne Brigade patch (R1), IRIAF colonel (L3) and officers from NEZAJA rapid reaction force.

NEZAJA Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Kiomars Heydari (R2) among officers participating in Moharam rapid reaction force exercise, phase I.

IRIAA Brigadier General 2C Kioumars Ahadi (center), former IRIAA commander, among officers participating Moharam rapid reaction force exercise, phase I.

Left: NEZAJA vehicle fitted with DIO Mesbah-1 (8x30 mm) anti-aircraft system

Right: NEZAJA Kaveh 30 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher

NEZAJA lieutenant and first sergeant loading Kaveh 30 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher

Detail of belt fitted with training rounds for Kaveh automatic grenade launcher

Transported NEZAJA BTR-60 type armored personnel carrier

NEZAJA Safir ("Ambassador") tactical vehicle fitted with BGM-71 TOW type ATGM

Right: NEZAJA Safir ("Ambassador") tactical vehicle fitted with 107 mm MLR

NEZAJA second sergeant manning vehicle-mounted DShKM type heavy machine gun

Iran military-attached clerics beside NEZAJA captain

NEZAJA Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan shaking hands with enlisted ranks, before a KrAZ 6322 heavy utility truck.

VIDEOS:

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency

Sacred Defense Week- NEZAJA arms & equipment delivery ceremony

NEZAJA on 26SEP15 during Sacred Defense Week put on display military technology achievements of Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization of the Iranian Army," with claimed deliveries to operational units. Below are Iranian media imagery related to the event:

Teaser image of eight-wheeled AFV based on a modified BTR-60 armored personnel carrier with BMP-2 turret and main armament.

Sarir 4x4 armored personnel carrier (APC). This AFV type was originally unveiled in early 2012.

BTR-60 armored personnel carrier fitted with what appears to be Sedad type 23mm gun (ZU-23-2 with electro-optical sight and stabilizer). If so, this type originally unveiled at previous Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization ceremony in August 2012.

9M133 Kornet launcher produced locally under name of "Dehlavie." This type has been displayed since at least as far back as July 2012.

Displayed missile of the Dehlavie ATGM system

Bostan 122 mm and Karkhe 107 mm disposable rocket launchers, claimed manufactured with composite material

Howeizeh SPG. This type, essentially a refurbished M109, was originally unveiled at previous Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization ceremony in August 2012.

Two Howeizeh SPG units on tank transporters manufactured in Iran

 

NEZAJA Commander Brig. Gen. Pourdastan with a Shaher 14.5mm anti-material sniper rifle. This type was originally unveiled at previous Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization ceremony in August 2012.

VIDEO:

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency, Mehdi Bolourian at Fars News Agency, Abolfazi Arabjavadi at Mehr News Agency

Iran “Fully Prepared” to Counter Threats at Borders – Army

Commander of the Ground Force of the Iranian Army (Artesh), Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, today said the country’s armed forces are “fully prepared” to counter any insurgency threats to the Iranian borders.

“All of the Armed Forces enjoy great military power and combative competence for countering threats,” Gen. Poutdastan said in a ceremony in western city of Doroud. (Nasim, 3 September)

The Armed Forces carefully monitor all moves along the borders and appropriate strategies are devised to counter all possible threats, Pourdastan added.

There were no explanations of why the commander of the Artesh ground forces, responsible to defend territories along the borders, should make such statement at this time and if the Artesh has gone into heightened state of preparedness.

In June 2014, the Artesh ground forces deployed five brigades, including armor and artillery units, into the Iraqi territory to stop the advance of the Islamic State (ISIL) forces from approaching western borders of Iran. Gen. Pourdastan recalled that episode during a parliamentary testimony in March. Now he probably could have seen indications to be “fully” prepared.

Photo credit: Commander of the Ground Force of the Iranian Army (Artesh) Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan (Nasim News Agency)

Iran Military ‘Needs More Funds’ to Counter ISIL – Official

Close to Iran Borders

A senior Iranian military official today told Majlis, the Iranian parliament, that the country’s armed forces need a bigger budget to confront ISIL.

“We have to face a new threat in the region,” said Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, commander of Iran’s ground forces. 

“Terrorist groups are close to our borders,” Gen. Pourdastan added. “Today we see presence of Daesh (ISIL) in Afghanistan and Pakistan too.” The Iranian general warned “the battle is on the ground.” (Fars News Agency/AFP, 24 May)

File photo: Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan (kabirnews)

Iranian generals' public statements on the Yemen conflict

At left: NEZAJA Commander Brig. Gen. Pourdastan at an indoctrination renewal ceremony held earlier this week

On the topic of the current conflict in Yemen, the commander of Iran's Army ground force (NEZAJA) Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan this week stated, “Despite Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes on Yemen, it should be noted the result of this war will not be decided in the air. The country of Yemen has strong ground forces, therefore this conflict will be determined on the ground.” Pourdastan added, “Saudi Arabia’s aggression against Yemen will clearly confront defeat; its [the intervention’s] consequences over the past two weeks are clearly to be seen.” [source: Mehr News]

Above: Defense Ministers Dehghan and Ryacudu at the Moscow Conference on International Security

At a security conference in Moscow on 16APR15, IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan, Iran’s defense minister, stated, “The Saudi government, which undertook this military invasion with the help of America and Israel and intelligence help from some regional countries, will not only achieve its own illegitimate goals, but has provided the grounds for its own collapse and irreparable failures and a similar fate of that of Saddam [Hussein] awaits it.”

He added, “The Saudi government should know that by supporting financially, logistically and by training of takfiris and terrorists in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Caucuses, and attacking Yemen while preventing humanitarian aid, will not turn it into an important country in the region.” Dehghan went on to say Saudi Arabia will become an important country in the region when it can unite Muslims and bring together the different sects, given that they are the custodian of the two holy mosques in Islam. [source: Al-Monitor]

Visible among the Iranian military delegation at the Moscow Conference on International Security include:
- IRGC brigadier generals (x2), IRGC brigadier generals 2C (x3)
- IRIAF brigadier general 2C, IRIAF colonel
- IRIA colonel

Artesh Joint Command 'Morning Ceremony'

Select pictorial from 'Morning Ceremony' leading up to Rouz-e Artesh at Tehran
Dated 14APR15

NEZAJA T-55 type medium tank


NEZAJA M109 self-propelled howitzer

 

NEZAJA T-72 main battle tank

Far right: Ranger light tactical vehicle variant


Background, far right: NEZAJA M113 armored personnel carrier

 

NEJAJA armored fighting vehicles and soft-skinned vehicles, left to right:
- FV101 Scorpion armored reconnaissance vehicle
- Neynava all-terrain general purpose 4×4 military truck
- BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle
- KrAZ military transport truck
- T-55 medium tank

 

65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade members parade past reviewing stand

 

Smiling "Green Beret" members of 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade equipped with MP-5 type SMG

 

Counter-terrorism demonstration by members of 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade

65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade member demonstrating motorcycle stunt riding

 

Parading brigade members from 58th "Zulfiqar" commando division

Physical training demonstration by a NEZAJA second lieutenant 

Parading cadet members of Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF)

Artesh senior officers present at Artesh Joint Command 'Morning Ceremony', left to right:
- Unidentified NEZAJA brigadier general 2C
- NEZAJA Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan
- Lieutenant Commander Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Alireza Sabahifard
- Lieutenant Commander of Iran Navy Rear Admiral Gholam Reza Khadem Biqam
- IRIAF Deputy Chief Liaison Officer General Aziz Nasirzadeh
- NEZAJA Lieutenant Commander Brigadier General 2C Ali Darabi
- Unidentified NEZAJA officer

Iran Army military marching band

Photos:
Islamic Republic News Agency
Mehr News Agency
Omid Vahabzadeh at Fars News Agency

NEZAJA 'Beit al-Moqaddas 26' exercise (1)

First stage of NEZAJA 'Beit al-Moqaddas' 26 exercises held on the eve of the anniversary of the liberation of the city of Khorramshahr (Iran-Iraq War), at the Maranjab Desert in Isfahan Province. Above: Naze'at-10 artillery rocket on MB L-series based TEL.

Rocket technicians wearing hardhats beside Naze'at-10 artillery rocket on MB L-series based TEL

Naze'at-10 artillery rocket upon firing

Launching of Naze'at-10 artillery rocket

Rocket technicians employing a digital theodolite for Naze'at-6 artillery rocket launch

Naze'at-type artillery rocket on MB L-series based TEL, in launch position. Note Fajr-5 artillery rocket launch in background

NEJAJA crewmen hoisting a Fajr-5 artillery rocket

NEJAJA crewmen hoisting a Fajr-5 artillery rocket - Note wooden rocket-carrying crates

Alternating teams of loaders for a Fajr-5 artillery rocket launcher

NEJAJA crewmen loading a Fajr-5 into the multiple rocket launcher

NEJAJA crewmen working out calculations for a Fajr-5 artillery rocket launch

NEJAJA second sergeant employing a theodolite for a Fajr-5 artillery rocket launch

NEJAJA crewman communicating on what appears to be a AN/PRC-77 type portable transceiver

Fajr-5 artillery rocket launch

IRIAA Bell 214A Isfahan medium lift helicopter, serial 6-4788 (cn 27141)

IRIAA Bell 214A Isfahan medium lift helicopters participating in 'Beit al-Moqaddas' 26 exercise

NEZAJA Commander Brig. Gen. Pourdastan among IRIAA pilots, NEZAJA rocket artillery crewmen and technicians

Photos: Hamed Malekpour at Tasnim News Agency, Payam Sani at Mehr News Agency