Iran will destroy Tel Aviv, Haifa in case of slightest Israeli action

Raeisi made the remarks while addressing a parade to mark National Army Day in Tehran on Tuesday, when he said the Iranian Army’s capabilities are based on domestic know-how.

“The enemies, especially the Zionist regime, have received this message that the slightest move against the country will evoke a severe response from the armed forces and will be accompanied by the destruction of Haifa and Tel Aviv,” he added.

He also said the message of the Iranian Armed Forces to the US troops is that they must leave the region as soon as possible.

“The extra-regional and American forces should leave the region as soon as possible because it is in their own interest and in the interest of the region,” the Iranian president said.

“The presence of foreign forces threatens regional security but our armed forces provide security wherever they are present in the region,” he added.

He noted that the Iranian Armed Forces have resisted terrorists and improved security in the region, while foreign forces only pose a threat to the regional states.

The Iranian Armed Forces’ power is beneficial to the security of the region and “it is no secret to anyone that our armed forces have protected the territorial integrity and security of the countries in the region,” he said.

He reiterated that the presence of foreign troops, Americans in particular, would never protect the integrity of the Persian Gulf region.

Troops from all units of the Iranian Army are holding massive military parades across the country on Tuesday morning to mark National Army Day.

In the capital, Tehran, a ceremony is being held near the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Imam Khomeini, with high-ranking officials and senior military commanders in attendance.

April 18 (Farvardin 29) is named Army Day in the Islamic Republic of Iran calendar.

Naming April 18 Army Day was one of the initiatives of Imam Khomeini at a time when the country's Army was facing various forms of internal and external sabotage.