Qalibaf: SCO’s ‘Sahand 2025’ drill signals ‘serious will’ to confront enemies

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says the ongoing large-scale "Sahand 2025" counter-terrorism exercise, involving SCO member states, sends a clear message of collective resolve against dominating powers. 

Speaking during an open session of the parliament on Tuesday, Qalibaf stated that the drill reflects the continuous improvement of Iran’s defense cooperation and joint anti-terror measures with other nations.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has hosted a major counter-terrorism drill codenamed Sahand 2025 involving various military units from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.

The extensive exercise kicked off in the operational area of the Imam Zaman Mechanized Brigade in Shabestar County on Monday, and is scheduled to wrap up on December 5.

Qalibaf noted that Iran’s defensive cooperation and joint counterterrorism efforts with other countries are continually advancing, and their operational results will be evident in "neutralizing threats against Iran and dismantling terrorist groups."

"Holding this exercise sends an important message to the dominating powers, showing that there is a serious will among independent countries to defend themselves against unjust global practices," he added. 

IRGC hosts Shanghai bloc's Sahand-2025 anti-terrorism drill in NW Iran

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched a major counter-terrorism drill, comprising various military units from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan.

IRGC 'security architect' of fight against terrorism

The commander of the joint anti-terrorism exercise Sahand 2025, Brigadier General Vali Ma'dani, stated in a joint press conference on Tuesday that “the IRGC is a recognized security architect of the fight against terrorism in the region and is always ready to fight terrorists.”

Ma'dani noted that the primary objectives of the drill are to enhance the military knowledge of commanders and personnel in countering terrorism, and to facilitate the comprehensive transfer of expertise among member states.

“The exercise aims to enable member countries to synergize their efforts toward a common goal of combating terrorism,” he underlined.

General Madani stated that the SCO member states—Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Russia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Kazakhstan, Iran, India, and Belarus—are participating as official members in the drill, adding that neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Oman, and Iraq, are taking part as observers.

Today and tomorrow will be devoted to staff work and operational briefings, while December 4 marks the main day of the exercise, he said.

Throughout all five phases, live ammunition will be used, and the main drill will last about three hours, added the commander.

With ‘comprehensive effort to combat terrorism’ chosen as its slogan, the exercise been designed by one of the special units of the IRGC Ground Forces and will be conducted with the integration of all specialized areas of the special forces, he added.

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