Amir Hatami

This photo released by the official website of the Iranian Defense Ministry on Sunday, June 9, 2019, shows the Khordad 15, a new surface-to-air missile battery at an undisclosed location in Iran. The system uses locally made missiles that resemble the HAWK missiles that the U.S. once sold to the shah and later delivered to the Islamic Republic in the 1980s Iran-Contra scandal. (Iranian Defense Ministry via AP)

June 9, 2019, 6:53 pm

Iran unveils new advanced missile defense system it says can destroy enemy jets

Islamic Republic’s defense minister says the Khordad 15 can trace targets 150 km away, intercept them at a range of 120 km and can destroy six objects at once

By TOI staff

Illustrative: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to journalists during a visit to inspect a naval Iron Dome defense system in the northern port of Haifa on February 12, 2019. (Jack Guez/Pool/AFP)

May 15, 2019, 9:19 pm

PM said to tell his defense chiefs to keep Israel out of Iran-US tensions

Netanyahu convenes security heads to discuss potential escalation, speaks to Pompeo, TV report says; assessment is reportedly that Israel unlikely to be targeted

By TOI staff

Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami speaks at the Conference on International Security in Moscow, Russia, April 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

May 15, 2019, 4:59 pm

Iran’s defense minister: ‘We will defeat the American-Zionist front’

Amid rising tensions, Amir Hatami tells Iranian military intelligence officials the country is at highest level of war preparedness, despite sanctions

By TOI staff

Israeli Navy boats take part in an exercise in northern Israel simulating a war with the Hezbollah terrorist group in September 2017. (Israel Defense Forces)

March 13, 2019, 10:16 am

Iran warns Israel of ‘crushing response’ to any naval intervention

After Netanyahu alleges maritime oil smuggling, Tehran defense minister vows to respond with force to any attempt to curtail exports

By TOI staff

Iran's newly launched Ghadir submarines move in the southern port of Bandar Abbas in Persian Gulf, Iran, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. Ghadir class submarines can fire missiles and torpedoes at the same time, and can operate in the Persian Gulf's shallow waters. (AP Photo/Fars News Agency, Ebrahim Norouzi)

February 17, 2019, 5:31 am

Iran to unveil submarine equipped with guided cruise missile system

Fateh vessel, outfitted with what Iran says is advanced equipment, reportedly to be inaugurated by president on Sunday

By TOI staff

Iran says it successfully tested the Hoveizeh cruise missile on February 2, 2019 (Screen grab via Tasnim)

February 2, 2019, 10:26 am

Iran says new cruise missile successfully fired on revolution’s 40th anniversary

Video shows test of ‘Hoveyzeh,’ allegedly a high-precision weapon capable of carrying a large payload for up to 1,200 kilometers

By TOI staff

This picture, released by the official website of the Iranian Defense Ministry on July 27, 2017, claims to show the Simorgh satellite-carrying rocket at Imam Khomeini National Space Center, in an undisclosed location, Iran. (Iranian Defense Ministry via AP)

January 23, 2019, 3:10 pm

Iran’s defense minister says another satellite launch coming ‘soon’

Comments come after failed attempt last week, and amid Western fears Tehran is using program to further its ballistic missile capability

By TOI staff and Agencies

Iran's Kowsar fighter jet. (Twitter screen capture)

November 3, 2018, 11:38 am

Iran inaugurates production line of local fighter jets ahead of US sanctions

Defense minister says domestically made Kowsar aircraft symbolizes Islamic Republic’s battle against ‘global ‘arrogance’ led by the US

By TOI staff

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif seen during a meeting between the Iranian president and the North Korean foreign minister in Tehran, Iran, on August 8, 2018. (AFP/Atta Kenare)

September 3, 2018, 10:58 am

Iran’s Zarif arrives in Damascus for talks with Syrian leadership

Foreign minister expected to meet with Assad as well as Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem, as regime prepares for Idlib offensive

By TOI staff and Agencies

August 28, 2018, 10:48 pm

Iran says its military advisers to remain in Syria

Continued presence of Tehran ‘advisers’ part of agreement defense agreement signed this week, despite efforts to push Iranian forces out of country

By AFP

Syrian anti-aircraft missiles rise into the sky as Israeli missiles hit air defense positions and other military bases, in Damascus, Syria, on May 10, 2018. (Government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, via AP)

August 28, 2018, 6:40 pm

Israel says it will keep hitting Iran, as Tehran says it’s staying in Syria

Senior diplomatic source says Netanyahu believes pushing Islamic Republic forces out of neighboring country as important as canceling nuclear deal

By TOI staff

Iran's army chief of staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, left, looking into binoculars, and other senior officers from the Iranian military, visit a front line in the northern province of Aleppo, Syria, on October 20, 2017. (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP, File)

August 28, 2018, 2:00 pm

Hezbollah-linked site says US offered to leave Syria if Iran withdrew from south

Damascus said to reject secret American proposal, which also demanded oil and info on terrorists, citing ‘strong relationship’ with allies Tehran and Hezbollah

By TOI staff

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows Syrian president Bashar Assad, right, meets with Iran's Defense minister Amir Hatami, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. Iran has provided key support to Assad in the seven-year civil war, sending thousands of military advisers and allied militiamen to bolster his forces. (SANA via AP)

August 28, 2018, 4:46 am

Iran, Syria sign defense, reconstruction deal

Despite Israeli efforts to keep Tehran out of Syria, Assad regime signs deal allowing for continued ‘presence and participation’ of Iran in the war-torn country

By AFP

August 27, 2018, 10:21 pm

Iran minister says Netanyahu keeping Mideast unstable to harm Tehran’s economy

Israeli threats to target Islamic Republic’s forces in Syria are ‘unrealistic,’ says Defense Minister Hatami, after inking deal to rebuild Syrian military

By TOI staff and Agencies

This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA shows Syrian president Bashar Assad, right, meeting with Iran's Defense minister Amir Hatami, in Damascus, Syria, on August 26, 2018. (SANA via AP)

August 27, 2018, 11:27 am

Syria, Iran agree to expand defense ties, amid efforts to remove forces

Iran to have ‘presence, participation and assistance’ in reconstruction of country, Tehran defense chief says, despite international bid to get Iran-backed fighters out of country

By TOI staff and AFP