A senior IRGC commander has described Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as the main obstacle in the way of regional US hegemony. “The IRGC is an organized and revolutionary armed force that is seen as the main obstacle in the way of US political and military dominance in the region,” said IRGC Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hossein Salami on Tuesday. “The IRGC has immeasurable lengths and widths,” he added, referring to the 'invisible but endless connection' that exists between the IRGC and the Iranian people.
Nowhere in the world is there a 'clear assessment' of IRGC's power, added the commander, stressing that the force has extraordinary depth in terms of morale levels and spiritual capacity. “I personally believe that the IRGC's retaliatory force does not lie in the number of its tanks, missiles, or anti-aircraft weapons, but in forces' devotion and determination which can help them go beyond normal expectations on the battle field,” he said.
Equipped with its own ground force, navy, air force, and intelligence, the IRGC is an official component of the Iranian military based on Article 150 of the Iranian constitution. The IRGC also controls the volunteer-based Basij force, which has the potential to bring together millions of soldiers.