MNA � Iranian Army�s first-in-command pointed to the necessity of boosting the readiness of the military forces.

�Today our main mission is to boost military prowess and readiness,� he said on Wednesday while paying a visit to Army�s Ground Force units in Shahroud, Semnan province.

He went on to say that increasing defense power is among the Leader�s main guidelines and that �the Army will take steps towards its realization with all might.�

Commander of Iranian Army Ground Force Brigadier General Kioumars Heidari accompanied Mousavi in the visit.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called for strengthening the country�s defense power to confront threats and avoid possible wars.

Addressing a group of Iranian Air Force commanders and personnel in early January, Ayatollah Khamenei said that that �in order to impede war and put an end to the threats, one has to become strong.�

�We are not seeking to threaten any nation, but to defend the country from threats,� the Leader added.

Iran has made major breakthroughs in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing military equipment and hardware despite facing US sanctions and Western economic pressure.

The Islamic Republic says its military power is solely for defensive purposes against enemy threats.