Update: Iran marks anniversary of war with Iraq

Iranians on Wednesday marked the 36th anniversary of the start of the Iran-Iraq war with a large-scale military parade that showcased the country's military achievements.

The Iran-Iraq war, which broke out in September 1980 and lasted through August 1988, incurred tremendous loss of lives and economic damage to both countries.

Half a million Iraqi and Iranian soldiers and civilians are believed to have died during the war, with many more injured.

The armed forces, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), the Basij militia volunteer forces as well as aerospace units participated in the parade during the ceremony.

In the capital Tehran, the parade was held at the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, was the keynote speaker at the parade in Tehran, according to local reports.

Baqeri said Iran has established comprehensive defensive strategies to counter all threats and that there will be no delay in Iran's military tests and war exercises, reported Tasnim news agency.

The Iranian commander said certain regional countries, supported by the United States and Israel, seek to destabilize Iran and the region, but that the Iranian Armed Forces enjoys powerful defense capabilities against any potential surprise attack.

A similar parade was held in the port city of Bandar Abbas on Wednesday as well, in which over 500 vessels, fighter jets and helicopters participated, Tasnim reported.

Furthermore, the IRGC demonstrated their new locally manufactured ballistic missile, dubbed Zolfaqar, during the Bandar Abbas parade.

Zolfaqar is a long-range ballistic missile with a cluster warhead. Endit