Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Basij volunteer force held an unveiling ceremony Monday in Tehran for the third comprehensive military training center.
These centers, all established by the Iranian Armed Forces, mainly offer basic military training to ordinary citizens.
Officers at the ceremony said Iran has launched a campaign to mobilize voluntary participation in defending the country, and so far more than 33 million people nationwide have taken part in it.
"We saw that as soon as registration was announced, all the slots were snapped up within 100 minutes. In response to the strong calls from the Iranian people, we decided to launch the training program. Basic, supplementary and advanced training, along with the necessary organizational work, are all now underway," said Hassan Hassanzadeh, commander of the IRGC's Mohammad Rasulullah Corps in Greater Tehran.
Officials from the IRGC's training department said tens of millions of Iranians want to join the program, sending a clear signal to the enemy that Iran is fully prepared in areas including internal security and border defense, and the volunteer teams will work closely with the armed forces to ensure rapid and effective responses in times of crisis.
"All the young people here will make the enemy despair and will not let the enemy achieve its aims," said Mohammad, a volunteer.
Multiple Iranian military representatives also attended the ceremony. Some said that if the United States and Israel believe war or threats can make Iran submit, they are completely mistaken, and that the Iranian people have shown through their actions that they will continue to support the armed forces in resisting any form of enemy threat.
Iran's IRGC opens new military training center in Tehran
As Japan on Tuesday marked the 80th anniversary of the promulgation of its pacifist Constitution, more than 10,000 Japanese citizens gathered in front of the National Diet building in Tokyo to protest moves by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government to revise the Constitution and expand military capabilities.
The Takaichi administration has recently made a series of moves concerning nuclear policy. After Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi repeatedly said that "no options are ruled out" in discussions about introducing nuclear-powered submarines, Takaichi told parliament this month that the government would seriously consider the possibility of the Self-Defense Forces acquiring such submarines in a "concrete and realistic manner."
"I believe that under the protection of the pacifist Constitution, Japan was not dragged into other countries' wars, and in some respects, the country was truly protected by the Constitution. But now some people want to abandon these restrictions, and Japan is moving step by step towards launching wars. In my view, relevant people are single-mindedly bent on starting a war, and they even incited the Japanese public hostility towards other countries. What kind of politicians would want to push for wars? That is why I come here to protest," said a protester.
Japanese media have reported that the government may revise the wording concerning the Three Non-Nuclear Principles when it updates the country's three key security documents by the end of this year.
"Japan today is heading to wars. I'm trying to do my part in stopping this trend. In particular, some people are trying to abandon the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. This is utterly absurd," said another protester.
"Military moves or wars cannot protect us. Wars are killing people. In the end, the only right path is diplomacy, through talking, communicating, and working hard, so as to find where we can resonate with each other. Revision of the Constitution absolutely must not be allowed, especially the kind of revision that attempts to turn Japan into a war-wielding country. It must not be allowed," said a protester.
Some at the rally said the Takaichi government's continued push for militarization has heightened tensions with neighboring countries.
"Japan's military budget is rising sharply. To maintain friendly relations with neighboring countries, Japan must not revise its Constitution, and the dangerous military buildup must not be allowed to go on," said another protester.
"I oppose the malicious revision of the Constitution, because I do not want Japan to become a country that launches wars again. Whether in military or economic terms, the Takaichi administration is showing extremely dangerous tendencies. The Takaichi administration is sparing no effort in trying to revise the Constitution, and this cannot be allowed to happen. We want to express our opposition by joining rallies like this," said a protester.
Over 10,000 Japanese citizens mark Constitution promulgation anniversary, rally against revision
